提心吊胆

• 拼音: tí xīn diào dǎn
• 汉字拆解: 提 = to lift; 心 = heart; 吊 = to hang; 胆 = gallbladder (courage)

含义

To be on tenterhooks; to be anxious and fearful; to have one's heart in one's mouth.

An idiom describing a state of constant fear and anxiety. The heart is 'raised' and the gallbladder is 'suspended' — both organs associated with courage and calm. Used for worrying about potential danger or bad outcomes.

例句

1. 等待面试结果的那几天，她整天提心吊胆，吃不下睡不着。
2. 股市大跌，投资者们个个提心吊胆，生怕血本无归。
3. 孩子一个人出远门，父母在家提心吊胆地等消息。

用法指南

语境: anxiety, worry, suspense

语气: tense

正确说法

• 等结果的时候提心吊胆的。(Waiting for the results with heart in my mouth.)
• 别让父母提心吊胆。(Don't make your parents worry.)

错误说法

• 用于轻微的担心 (Don't use for mild worry — it describes intense, sustained anxiety)

起源与历史

提心 means heart lifted, 吊胆 means gallbladder suspended — organs of courage both unsettled by fear.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal