临时抱佛脚

• Pinyin: lín shí bào fú jiǎo
• Hanzi breakdown: 临时 (at the last moment) + 抱 (hold) + 佛脚 (Buddha’s feet) -> seek help too late.

Meaning

临时抱佛脚 means cramming or seeking help only at the last minute.

It is often used before exams, deadlines, interviews, or emergencies. The phrase criticizes poor preparation but can be self-mocking.

Examples

1. 明天考试，他今晚才临时抱佛脚。 He only started cramming for tomorrow's exam tonight.
2. 项目快交了才临时抱佛脚，太冒险。 Trying to 临时抱佛脚 right before the project is due is too risky.
3. 别把正常复习都叫临时抱佛脚。 Don't call normal revision 临时抱佛脚.

Usage Guide

Context: exams, deadlines, work projects

Tone: self-mocking, critical, anxious

Do Say

• 考前通宵可说临时抱佛脚。（It fits last-minute cramming.）
• 赶截止日期时也常用。（It fits deadline panic.）

Don't Say

• 提前计划的复习叫临时抱佛脚。（It must be last-minute.）

Common Mistakes

• Do not read it literally as religious behavior in modern use.

Origin & History

An old saying about grabbing Buddha’s feet only in crisis became a common idiom for last-minute effort.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: All generations, very common among students

Social background: Education and workplace contexts

Regional notes: Common idiom across Mainland Chinese.