Chinese word

拭目以待

Pronunciation

Pinyinshì mù yǐ dài

Meaning

  • idiomwait and see

Example

新产品发布时，大家都在拭目以待。xīn chán pǐn fā bù shí dà jiā dōu zài shì mù yǐ dài

At the launch of the new product, everyone is waiting and watching.

Illustration for 拭目以待 (wait and see)

More examples

电影票开始预售时，影迷们都在拭目以待。diàn yǐng piào kāi shǐ yù shòu shí yǐng mí men dōu zài shì mù yǐ dài

When movie tickets go on presale, movie fans are all waiting and watching.

Core concept

Eyes remain trained on an important event while its outcome is still unknown.

Common phrases

  • 大家拭目以待dà jiā shì mù yǐ dài

    everyone waits eagerly

  • 拭目以待结果shì mù yǐ dài jié guǒ

    wait expectantly for the result

  • 让我们拭目以待ràng wǒ men shì mù yǐ dài

    Let's wait and see

Similar words

翘首以待qiáo shóu yǐ dài: Waiting eagerly for a much-anticipated event or result.

Definition in Chinese

形象地表示以期待的心情注视并等待某事的发生或结局。xíng xiàng dì biǎo shì yǐ qī dài de xīn qíng zhù shì bìng děng dài mǒu shì de fā shēng huò jié jú

Word origin

拭目以待 (shìmùyǐdài, "wipe the eyes and wait") turns a literal act of preparing the eyes for clear observation into a set expression for watching expectantly for what happens next.

Usage tips

  • The expression works well for product launches, competitions, and announcements, while ordinary plans usually call for more casual wording.

Other meanings

  • wait eagerlyidiom
  • wait with bated breathidiom

Opposites

Word lists with this word