HKDictionary

捉襟見肘 (zuk1 kam1 gin3 zaau2) — in dire straits; in strained circumstances; unable to make both ends meet in Cantonese

zukˉ¹捉kamˉ¹襟gin˗₃見zaauˊ²肘
简 捉襟见肘
Mandarin Pinyin: zhuo1 jin1 jian4 zhou3

Meaning of 捉襟見肘

nounin dire straits; in strained circumstances; unable to make both ends meet
nountightening the lapels of the jacket would expose the elbows

Characters in 捉襟見肘

捉zuk1
grasp; seize hold of; clutch
襟kam1
brothers-in-law whose wives are sisters
見gin3
meet; call on; visit
肘zaau2
elbow; upper part of a leg of pork

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