To escape death from an extremely dangerous situation; to have a narrow escape from death.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
Once upon a time, in the state of Chu, there was a man named Ci Fei. He obtained a treasured sword by chance and joyfully set off to cross a river and return home.
As the boat reached the middle of the river, two jiaolong (mythical water dragons) suddenly appeared, stirring up waves and creating chaos around his vessel. Everyone on board was terrified, not knowing what to do.
Ci Fei, however, calmly asked the boatman, "If this continues, aren't we all just waiting to die?" The boatman pessimistically replied, "This is surely our doom; what else can be done?"
Ci Fei pondered for a moment, then immediately drew his sword and declared, "Those who perished here before did so because, despite having weapons, they dared not fight these water dragons." As soon as Ci Fei finished speaking, he leaped into the river and slew the two water dragons.
The entire boatload of people was thus saved.