without rules, nothing can be done (idiom, from Mencius); one must follow some rules
不赞成不贊成bu4 zan4 cheng2
disapproval; to disapprove
沉没成本沉沒成本chen2 mo4 cheng2 ben3
sunk cost (economics)
成安成安cheng2 an1
Chang'an county in Handan 邯鄲|邯郸, Hebei
成安县成安縣cheng2 an1 xian4
Chang'an county in Handan 邯鄲|邯郸, Hebei
成百上千成百上千cheng2 bai3 shang4 qian1
hundreds; a large number; lit. by the hundreds and thousands
成败成敗cheng2 bai4
success or failure
成败得失成敗得失cheng2 bai4 de2 shi1
lit. success and failure, the gains and losses (idiom); fig. to weigh up various factors
成败利钝成敗利鈍cheng2 bai4 li4 dun4
succeed or fail, sharp or blunt (idiom); advantages and disadvantages; success and failure; You win some, you lose some.
成败论人成敗論人cheng2 bai4 lun4 ren2
to judge people based on their success or failure (idiom)
成败在此一举成敗在此一舉cheng2 bai4 zai4 ci3 yi1 ju3
win or lose, it all ends here; this is the moment to shine
成报成報cheng2 bao4
Sing Pao Daily News
成本成本cheng2 ben3
(manufacturing, production etc) costs
成才成才cheng2 cai2
to make sth of oneself; to become a person who is worthy of respect
成材成材cheng2 cai2
to make sth of oneself; to become a person who is worthy of respect; (of a tree) to grow to full size; to become useful for timber
成层成層cheng2 ceng2
layered; stratified
成虫成蟲cheng2 chong2
imago (adult, sexually mature insect, the final stage of its development)
成串成串cheng2 chuan4
cluster; bunch
成道成道cheng2 dao4
to reach illumination (Buddhism)
成丁成丁cheng2 ding1
(of a male) to come of age; an adult male
成都成都cheng2 du1
Chengdu subprovincial city and capital of Sichuan province 四川 in southwest China
成都市成都市cheng2 du1 shi4
Chengdu subprovincial city and capital of Sichuan province 四川 in southwest China
成都体育大学成都體育大學cheng2 du1 ti3 yu4 da4 xue2
Chengdu Sports University
成对成對cheng2 dui4
to form a pair
成反比成反比cheng2 fan3 bi3
to vary inversely; inversely proportional to
成方儿成方兒cheng2 fang1 er5
set prescription (i.e. medicine specifically prescribed for a definite condition)
成分成分cheng2 fen4
composition; make-up; ingredient; element; component; one's social status
成份成份cheng2 fen4
composition; make-up; ingredient; element; component; one's social status; same as 成分
成份股成份股cheng2 fen4 gu3
share included in composite index
成佛成佛cheng2 fo2
to become a Buddha; to attain enlightenment
成功成功cheng2 gong1
Chenggong or Chengkung town in Taitung county 臺東縣|台东县, southeast Taiwan
成功成功cheng2 gong1
success; to succeed
成功感成功感cheng2 gong1 gan3
sense of accomplishment
成功镇成功鎮cheng2 gong1 zhen4
Chenggong or Chengkung town in Taitung county 臺東縣|台东县, southeast Taiwan
成骨成骨cheng2 gu3
bone formation; osteogenesis
成骨不全症成骨不全症cheng2 gu3 bu4 quan2 zheng4
osteogenesis imperfecta (OI); brittle bone disease
成规成規cheng2 gui1
established rules; the beaten track
成果成果cheng2 guo3
result; achievement; gain; profit
成汉成漢cheng2 han4
Cheng Han of the Sixteen Kingdoms (304-347)
成核成核cheng2 he2
nucleation
成何体统成何體統cheng2 he2 ti3 tong3
What a scandal!; Whatever next?
成华成華cheng2 hua2
Chenghua district of Chengdu city 成都市, Sichuan
成华区成華區cheng2 hua2 qu1
Chenghua district of Chengdu city 成都市, Sichuan
成话成話cheng2 hua4
to make sense
成婚成婚cheng2 hun1
to get married
成活成活cheng2 huo2
to survive
成活率成活率cheng2 huo2 lv4
survival rate; rate of success
成吉思汗成吉思汗cheng2 ji2 si1 han2
Genghis Khan (1162-1227)
成绩成績cheng2 ji4
achievement; performance records; grades
成绩单成績單cheng2 ji4 dan1
school report or transcript
成绩卓然成績卓然cheng2 ji4 zhuo2 ran2
to achieve astounding results (idiom)
成家成家cheng2 jia1
to settle down and get married (of a man); to become a recognized expert
成家立室成家立室cheng2 jia1 li4 shi4
to get married (idiom)
成家立业成家立業cheng2 jia1 li4 ye4
to get married and start a career (idiom); to settle down; to establish oneself
成见成見cheng2 jian4
preconceived idea; bias; prejudice
成交成交cheng2 jiao1
to complete a contract; to reach a deal
成交价成交價cheng2 jiao1 jia4
sale price; negotiated price; price reached in an auction
成教成教cheng2 jiao4
adult education, abbr. for 成人教育
成就成就cheng2 jiu4
accomplishment; success; achievement; to achieve (a result); to create; to bring about
成军成軍cheng2 jun1
lit. to form an army; to set up (team, group, band, organization etc); to found; opening (ceremony); to commission (arms system, naval vessel); to graduate from an apprenticeship
成均馆成均館cheng2 jun1 guan3
Koryo Seonggyungwan, university dating back to Korean Goryeo dynasty, in Gaesong, North Korea; Sungkyun kwan university, Seoul
成考移民成考移民cheng2 kao3 yi2 min2
mandatory college exam for immigrants
成了成了cheng2 le5
to be done; to be ready; that's enough!; that will do!
成立成立cheng2 li4
to establish; to set up; to be tenable; to hold water
成龙成龍cheng2 long2
Jackie Chan (1954-), kungfu film and cantopop star
成名成名cheng2 ming2
to make one's name; to become famous
成名作成名作cheng2 ming2 zuo4
work that makes one's name
成年成年cheng2 nian2
to grow to adulthood; fully grown; the whole year
成年累月成年累月cheng2 nian2 lei3 yue4
year in, year out (idiom)
成年人成年人cheng2 nian2 ren2
adult person
成年者成年者cheng2 nian2 zhe3
adult
成批成批cheng2 pi1
in batches; in bulk
成品成品cheng2 pin3
finished goods; a finished product
成品油成品油cheng2 pin3 you2
refined oil
成器成器cheng2 qi4
to make sth of oneself; to become a person who is worthy of respect
成千成千cheng2 qian1
thousands
成千成万成千成萬cheng2 qian1 cheng2 wan4
lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands
成千累万成千累萬cheng2 qian1 lei3 wan4
lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands
成千上万成千上萬cheng2 qian1 shang4 wan4
lit. by the thousands and tens of thousands (idiom); untold numbers; innumerable; thousands upon thousands
成亲成親cheng2 qin1
to get married
成圈成圈cheng2 quan1
wreathe
成全成全cheng2 quan2
to help sb accomplish his aim; to help sb succeed; to complete; to make whole; to round off
成群成群cheng2 qun2
in groups; large numbers of; grouping
成群结队成群結隊cheng2 qun2 jie2 dui4
making up a group, forming a troupe (idiom); in large numbers; as a large crowd
成人成人cheng2 ren2
adult
成仁成仁cheng2 ren2
to die for a good cause
成人礼成人禮cheng2 ren2 li3
coming of age ceremony
成日成日cheng2 ri4
all day long; the whole day; the whole time
成色成色cheng2 se4
relative purity of silver or gold; purity in carat weight; quality; fineness
lit. raised up by Xiao He, cast down by Xiao He (idiom), alluding to Han Xin 韓信|韩信 being made Grand General 大將軍|大将军; fig. a situation where one's success and failure are both due to the same factor
成夜成夜cheng2 ye4
all night long
成衣成衣cheng2 yi1
ready-made clothes
成因成因cheng2 yin1
cause; factor; cause of formation
成瘾成癮cheng2 yin3
to be addicted; addiction
成蛹成蛹cheng2 yong3
to pupate; to become a chrysalis
成渝成渝cheng2 yu2
Chengdu 成都 and Chongqing 重慶|重庆
成语成語cheng2 yu3
Chinese set expression, typically of 4 characters, often alluding to a story or historical quotation; idiom; proverb; saying; adage
成语典故成語典故cheng2 yu3 dian3 gu4
historical or literary anecdote that gives rise to a saying
成语接龙成語接龍cheng2 yu3 jie1 long2
game where the last word of one idiom 成語|成语 is the first of the next
to speak like a printed book; quick and clever talking; the gift of the gab
川端康成川端康成chuan1 duan1 kang1 cheng2
Kawabata Yasunari, Japanese literature Nobel laureate
磁共振成像磁共振成像ci2 gong4 zhen4 cheng2 xiang4
magnetic resonance imaging MRI
凑成湊成cou4 cheng2
to put together; to make up (a set); to round up (a number to a convenient multiple); resulting in...
促成促成cu4 cheng2
to facilitate; to effect
达成達成da2 cheng2
to reach (an agreement); to accomplish
达成协议達成協議da2 cheng2 xie2 yi4
to reach agreement
打成平手打成平手da3 cheng2 ping2 shou3
to draw (a competition); to fight to a standstill
打成一片打成一片da3 cheng2 yi1 pian4
to merge; to integrate; to become as one; to unify together
大功告成大功告成da4 gong1 gao4 cheng2
successfully accomplished (project or goal); to be highly successful
大器晚成大器晚成da4 qi4 wan3 cheng2
lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly; in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state; Rome wasn't built in a day
当成當成dang4 cheng2
to consider as; to take to be
低成本低成本di1 cheng2 ben3
low cost; inexpensive
点金成铁點金成鐵dian3 jin1 cheng2 tie3
to transform gold into base metal (idiom); fig. to edit sb else's beautiful prose and ruin it
点石成金點石成金dian3 shi2 cheng2 jin1
to touch base matter and turn it to gold (idiom); fig. to turn crude writing into a literary gem
点铁成金點鐵成金dian3 tie3 cheng2 jin1
to touch base matter and turn it to gold (idiom); fig. to turn crude writing into a literary gem
独木不成林獨木不成林du2 mu4 bu4 cheng2 lin2
a lone tree does not make a forest (idiom); one cannot accomplish much on one's own
煅成末煅成末duan4 cheng2 mo4
to calcine (purify by heating)
反目成仇反目成仇fan3 mu4 cheng2 chou2
to become enemies (idiom); to fall out with sb
泛滥成灾泛濫成災fan4 lan4 cheng2 zai1
flood causes disaster (idiom); fig. swamped with work
to look favorably on sth; would be glad to see it happen
乐见其成樂見其成le4 jian4 qi2 cheng2
to look favorably on sth; would be glad see it happen
累成狗累成狗lei4 cheng2 gou3
(Internet slang) to be dog-tired
李成桂李成桂li3 cheng2 gui4
Yi Seong-gye (1335-1408), founder and first king of Korean Yi dynasty (1392-1910)
李成江李成江li3 cheng2 jiang1
Li Chengjiang (1979-), Chinese figure skater
李建成李建成li3 jian4 cheng2
Li Jiancheng (589-626), eldest son of first Tang emperor Li Yuan 唐高祖李淵|唐高祖李渊, murdered by his brother 李世民 in the Xuanwu Gate coup 玄武門之變|玄武门之变; Professor Li Jiancheng (1993-), geophysicist and specialist in satellite geodesy
李自成李自成li3 zi4 cheng2
Li Zicheng (1605-1645), leader of peasant rebellion at the end of the Ming Dynasty
立地成佛立地成佛li4 di4 cheng2 fo2
to become a Buddha on the spot (idiom); instant rehabilitation; to repent and be absolved of one's crimes
历史成本歷史成本li4 shi3 cheng2 ben3
historic cost (accounting)
联合式合成词聯合式合成詞lian2 he2 shi4 he2 cheng2 ci2
coordinative compound word
留成留成liu2 cheng2
to retain a portion (of profits etc)
乱成一团亂成一團luan4 cheng2 yi1 tuan2
in a great mess; chaotic
落成落成luo4 cheng2
to complete a construction project
绿树成荫綠樹成蔭lv4 shu4 cheng2 yin4
(of an area) to have trees with shade-giving foliage; (of a road) to be tree-lined
if you ride a tiger, it's hard to get off (idiom); fig. impossible to stop halfway
嗜痂成癖嗜痂成癖shi4 jia1 cheng2 pi3
to have strange and dangerous addictions (idiom)
嗜杀成性嗜殺成性shi4 sha1 cheng2 xing4
bloodthirsty
事业有成事業有成shi4 ye4 you3 cheng2
to be successful in business; professional success
收成收成shou1 cheng2
harvest
守成守成shou3 cheng2
to preserve the accomplishments of previous generations; to carry on the good work of one's predecessors
水到渠成水到渠成shui3 dao4 qu2 cheng2
lit. where water flows, a canal is formed (idiom); fig. when conditions are right, success will follow naturally
顺理成章順理成章shun4 li3 cheng2 zhang1
logical; only to be expected; rational and clearly structured (of text)
速成速成su4 cheng2
crash (course); accelerated (process); quick (fix); instant (success); to achieve in a short time
塑造成塑造成su4 zao4 cheng2
to shape into; to mold (into some form); to fashion into
缩成縮成suo1 cheng2
to shrink into
缩成一团縮成一團suo1 cheng2 yi1 tuan2
to huddle together; to curl up
提成提成ti2 cheng2
to take a percentage
天成天成tian1 cheng2
as if made by heaven
天文学大成天文學大成tian1 wen2 xue2 da4 cheng2
the Almagest by Ptolemy
铁杵成针鐵杵成針tie3 chu3 cheng2 zhen1
see 磨杵成針|磨杵成针
偷鸡不成蚀把米偷雞不成蝕把米tou1 ji1 bu4 cheng2 shi2 ba3 mi3
lit. to try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it (idiom); fig. to try to gain an advantage only to end up worse off; to go for wool and come back shorn
脱胎成仙脫胎成仙tuo1 tai1 cheng2 xian1
reborn as immortal
外来成语外來成語wai4 lai2 cheng2 yu3
loan idiom
完成完成wan2 cheng2
to complete; to accomplish
完成时完成時wan2 cheng2 shi2
perfect tense (grammar)
网络成瘾網絡成癮wang3 luo4 cheng2 yin3
Internet addiction; net addiction; web addiction
望女成凤望女成鳳wang4 nv3 cheng2 feng4
see 望子成龍|望子成龙
望子成龙望子成龍wang4 zi3 cheng2 long2
lit. to hope one's son becomes a dragon (idiom); fig. to long for one' s child to succeed in life; to have great hopes for one's offspring; to give one's child the best education as a career investment
未成未成wei4 cheng2
minor (i.e. person under 18); incomplete; unachieved; failed; abortive
蔚成蔚成wei4 cheng2
to afford (a magnificent view etc); to become (a prevailing fashion etc)
未成冠未成冠wei4 cheng2 guan1
minor (old usage, person under 20)
未成年人未成年人wei4 cheng2 nian2 ren2
minor (i.e. person under 18)
未成年者未成年者wei4 cheng2 nian2 zhe3
minor (not an adult)
卫留成衛留成wei4 liu2 cheng2
Wei Liucheng (1946-), fifth governor of Hainan
蔚然成风蔚然成風wei4 ran2 cheng2 feng1
to have become common practice (idiom); to become a general trend
未完成未完成wei4 wan2 cheng2
imperfect; incomplete
文成文成wen2 cheng2
Wencheng county in Wenzhou 溫州|温州, Zhejiang
文成县文成縣wen2 cheng2 xian4
Wencheng county in Wenzhou 溫州|温州, Zhejiang
无成無成wu2 cheng2
achieving nothing
无巧不成书無巧不成書wu2 qiao3 bu4 cheng2 shu1
curious coincidence
无心插柳柳成阴無心插柳柳成陰wu2 xin1 cha1 liu3 liu3 cheng2 yin1
lit. idly poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree to shade you; (fig.) unintentional actions may bring unexpected success; also written 無心插柳柳成蔭|无心插柳柳成荫
吸毒成瘾吸毒成癮xi1 du2 cheng2 yin3
drug addiction
媳妇熬成婆媳婦熬成婆xi2 fu4 ao2 cheng2 po2
lit. even a submissive daughter-in-law will one day become a domineering mother-in-law (idiom); fig. the oppressed will become the oppressor; what goes around comes around
习惯成自然習慣成自然xi2 guan4 cheng2 zi4 ran2
habit becomes nature (idiom); get used to something and it seems inevitable; second nature
习以成俗習以成俗xi2 yi3 cheng2 su2
to become accustomed to sth through long practice
习以成性習以成性xi2 yi3 cheng2 xing4
deeply ingrained; steeped in
现成現成xian4 cheng2
ready-made; readily available
相辅相成相輔相成xiang1 fu3 xiang1 cheng2
to complement one another (idiom)
相沿成习相沿成習xiang1 yan2 cheng2 xi2
well established; accepted as a result of long usage
相映成趣相映成趣xiang1 ying4 cheng2 qu4
to set each other off nicely
孝成王孝成王xiao4 cheng2 wang2
King Xiaocheng of Zhao 趙國|赵国, reigned 266-245 BC
新成土新成土xin1 cheng2 tu3
Primosols (Chinese Soil Taxonomy)
心想事成心想事成xin1 xiang3 shi4 cheng2
to have one's wishes come true; wish you the best!
形成形成xing2 cheng2
to form; to take shape
形成层形成層xing2 cheng2 ceng2
vascular cambium (layer of tissue responsible for growth inside wood)
性成熟性成熟xing4 cheng2 shu2
sexual maturity
胸有成略胸有成略xiong1 you3 cheng2 lve4
the hero has plans already laid (idiom); to have plans ready in advance; forewarned is forearmed
胸有成算胸有成算xiong1 you3 cheng2 suan4
the hero has plans already laid (idiom); to have plans ready in advance; forewarned is forearmed
胸有成竹胸有成竹xiong1 you3 cheng2 zhu2
to plan in advance (idiom); a card up one's sleeve; forewarned is forearmed
熊成基熊成基xiong2 cheng2 ji1
Xiong Chengji (1887-1910), anti-Qing revolutionary and martyr
修成正果修成正果xiu1 cheng2 zheng4 guo3
to achieve Buddhahood through one's efforts and insight; to obtain a positive outcome after sustained efforts; to come to fruition
修炼成仙修煉成仙xiu1 lian4 cheng2 xian1
lit. to practice austerities to become a Daoist immortal; practice makes perfect
薛福成薛福成xue1 fu2 cheng2
Xue Fucheng (1838-1894), Qing official and progressive political theorist
学业有成學業有成xue2 ye4 you3 cheng2
to be successful in one's studies; academic success
血流成河血流成河xue4 liu2 cheng2 he2
rivers of blood (idiom); bloodbath
血栓形成血栓形成xue4 shuan1 xing2 cheng2
thrombosis
熏陶成性熏陶成性xun1 tao2 cheng2 xing4
(idiom) nurture makes second nature; good habits come by long assimilation
盐成土鹽成土yan2 cheng2 tu3
Halosols (Chinese Soil Taxonomy)
眼成穿眼成穿yan3 cheng2 chuan1
to watch in anticipation (idiom)
养成養成yang3 cheng2
to cultivate; to raise; to form (a habit); to acquire
夜不成眠夜不成眠ye4 bu4 cheng2 mian2
to be unable to sleep at night
一成不变一成不變yi1 cheng2 bu4 bian4
nothing much changes (idiom); always the same; stuck in a rut
一举成功一舉成功yi1 ju3 cheng2 gong1
success at one go; to succeed at the first attempt
一口吃不成胖子一口吃不成胖子yi1 kou3 chi1 bu4 cheng2 pang4 zi5
lit. you cannot get fat with only one mouthful (proverb); fig. learn to walk before you run
一气呵成一氣呵成yi1 qi4 he1 cheng2
to do something at one go; to flow smoothly
一失足成千古恨一失足成千古恨yi1 shi1 zu2 cheng2 qian1 gu3 hen4
a single slip may cause everlasting sorrow (idiom)
一事无成一事無成yi1 shi4 wu2 cheng2
to have achieved nothing; to be a total failure; to get nowhere
一雨成秋一雨成秋yi1 yu3 cheng2 qiu1
a sudden shower towards the end of summer brings an abrupt arrival of autumn (idiom)
已成形已成形yi3 cheng2 xing2
preformed
译成譯成yi4 cheng2
to translate into (Chinese, English etc)
因爱成恨因愛成恨yin1 ai4 cheng2 hen4
hatred caused by love (idiom); to grow to hate someone because of unrequited love for that person
因人成事因人成事yin1 ren2 cheng2 shi4
to get things done relying on others (idiom); with a little help from his friends
lit. you plant a garden and the flowers do not bloom, you poke a stick in the mud and it grows into a tree; fig. things do not always turn out as one would expect; well-laid plans may fail, and success may come where you least expect it
有志竟成有志竟成you3 zhi4 jing4 cheng2
persevere and you will succeed (idiom); where there's a will, there's a way
有志者事竟成有志者事竟成you3 zhi4 zhe3 shi4 jing4 cheng2
a really determined person will find a solution (idiom); where there's a will, there's a way
语音合成語音合成yu3 yin1 he2 cheng2
speech synthesis
宇宙生成论宇宙生成論yu3 zhou4 sheng1 cheng2 lun4
cosmology
玉成玉成yu4 cheng2
please help achieve something (formal)
约定俗成約定俗成yue1 ding4 su2 cheng2
established by popular usage (idiom); common usage agreement; customary convention
赞成贊成zan4 cheng2
to approve; to endorse; (literary) to assist
赞成票贊成票zan4 cheng2 piao4
approval; affirmative vote
造成造成zao4 cheng2
to bring about; to create; to cause
造成问题造成問題zao4 cheng2 wen4 ti2
to create an issue; to cause a problem
责成責成ze2 cheng2
give sb a task
张成泽張成澤zhang1 cheng2 ze2
Jang Seong-taek or Chang Sŏngt'aek (1946-2013), brother-in-law of Kim Jong-il 金正日, uncle and regent of Kim Jong-un 金正恩
If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.; cf idiom 磨杵成針|磨杵成针, to grind an iron bar down to a fine needle (idiom); fig. to persevere in a difficult task; to study diligently
制成製成zhi4 cheng2
to manufacture; to turn out (a product)
制成品制成品zhi4 cheng2 pin3
manufactured goods; finished product
终成眷属終成眷屬zhong1 cheng2 juan4 shu3
see 有情人終成眷屬|有情人终成眷属
终成泡影終成泡影zhong1 cheng2 pao4 ying3
to come to nothing (idiom)
中成药中成藥zhong1 cheng2 yao4
prepared prescription (Chinese medicine)
中山成彬中山成彬zhong1 shan1 cheng2 bin1
NAKAYAMA Nariaki (1943-), right-wing Japanese cabinet minister and prominent denier of Japanese war crimes
众志成城眾志成城zhong4 zhi4 cheng2 cheng2
unity of will is an impregnable stronghold (idiom)
周成王周成王zhou1 cheng2 wang2
King Cheng of Zhou (1055-1021 BC), reigned 1042-1021 BC as the 2nd king of Western Zhou 西周, son of King Wu of Zhou 周武王
铸成鑄成zhu4 cheng2
to cast in metal; (fig.) to forge; to fashion
铸成大错鑄成大錯zhu4 cheng2 da4 cuo4
to make a serious mistake (idiom)
专用集成电路專用集成電路zhuan1 yong4 ji2 cheng2 dian4 lu4
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)
装成裝成zhuang1 cheng2
to pretend
着手成春著手成春zhuo2 shou3 cheng2 chun1
lit. set out and it becomes spring (idiom); to effect a miracle cure (of medical operation); to bring back the dead; once it starts, everything goes well
卓有成效卓有成效zhuo2 you3 cheng2 xiao4
highly effective; fruitful
自成一家自成一家zi4 cheng2 yi1 jia1
to have a style of one's own
自学成才自學成才zi4 xue2 cheng2 cai2
a self-made genius
总成本總成本zong3 cheng2 ben3
total costs
组成組成zu3 cheng2
to form; to make up; to constitute
组成部分組成部分zu3 cheng2 bu4 fen4
part; component; ingredient; constituent
坐观成败坐觀成敗zuo4 guan1 cheng2 bai4
to sit and await success or failure (idiom); to wait to see the outcome of a fight before taking sides; to sit on the fence