迫在眉睫
- Literal
- pressing upon the brows and lashes
- Figurative
- Extremely urgent and brooking no delay; a matter that is right upon us.
Where does 迫在眉睫 come from?
It does not come from a specific anecdote but from an image: the brows and lashes (眉睫) are the closest things to the eyes, almost touching the face, so something “迫在眉睫” is a danger or task so near it is already on top of you. Using 眉睫 to mean “what is right before one's eyes, the immediate” is old (it shows up in texts such as the Zhuangzi), but the four-character set phrase itself is much later and does not stem from one specific classical work.
How is 迫在眉睫 used? Two examples
- 考试迫在眉睫，他却还没开始复习。
The exam is right around the corner, yet he hasn't even started reviewing.
- 环境问题迫在眉睫，我们必须马上行动。
The environmental problem is pressing upon us; we must act right away.
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