连滚带爬

1. Basic Information

• Pinyin: lián gǔn dài pá
• English Translation: Rolling and crawling (scrambling in panic)
• Idiom Composition: 「连」（Including or and (part of a correlative structure indicating simultaneous actions)）＋「滚」（To roll）＋「带」（And or with (connecting two actions occurring together)）＋「爬」（To crawl or climb）
• Meaning: To move in a frantic, undignified manner by rolling and crawling, typically due to extreme fear, panic, or the difficulty of the terrain.

2. Detailed Meaning and Nuances

「连滚带爬」 contains the following nuances:

• Desperation and Clumsiness: This idiom emphasizes a state where normal walking or running is impossible. Whether due to panic or physical obstacles, the person must resort to rolling and crawling, losing all sense of dignity.
• Fear and Panic: It often reflects a psychological state of being so terrified that one's only goal is survival, leading to a frantic and messy escape.
• Grammatical Structure: The 连 (lián) ... 带 (dài) ... pattern is a common way in Chinese to describe two actions happening simultaneously or in quick succession, creating a vivid, chaotic image.

3. Usage

「连滚带爬」 is mainly used in the following contexts:

• Escaping in Terror: The most typical usage, describing someone fleeing from an enemy, wild beast, or terrifying person so frantically that they trip and scramble.
  • Example:「听到警笛声，那几个小偷吓得连滚带爬地逃走了。」
    （Hearing the police sirens, the thieves were so terrified that they scrambled away in a panic.）
• Navigating Difficult Terrain: Used to describe the physical struggle of climbing up or down a very steep or treacherous slope using both hands and feet.
  • Example:「为了赶在天黑前下山，我们连滚带爬地冲下了陡坡。」
    （To get down the mountain before dark, we scrambled and slid down the steep slope.）
• Extreme Excitement or Haste: An exaggerated expression for when someone loses their composure and rushes toward someone or something due to intense emotion.
  • Example:「听说中了彩票大奖，他激动得连滚带爬地跑去告诉家人。」
    （Hearing he won the lottery, he was so excited that he rushed frantically to tell his family.）

Additional Examples:

1. 被狗追的时候，他连滚带爬地翻过了围墙。
   （When chased by the dog, he scrambled desperately over the wall.）
2. 地震发生时，大家连滚带爬地冲出了大楼。
   （When the earthquake hit, everyone scrambled out of the building.）
3. 那个醉汉连滚带爬地回到了家，倒头就睡。
   （The drunkard stumbled and crawled his way home and fell asleep immediately.）
4. 看到老板发火，他吓得连滚带爬地离开了办公室。
   （Seeing the boss's fury, he was so scared that he scrambled out of the office.）

4. Cultural Background and Notes

• Visual Storytelling: Chinese idioms often favor highly visual and dynamic descriptions. Instead of simply saying someone 'fled,' 连滚带爬 (lián gǔn dài pá) paints a vivid picture of the chaos and desperation of the moment.
• The 连...带... Structure: This is a common colloquial pattern used to link two related actions, such as 连说带笑 (lián shuō dài xiào) meaning 'talking and laughing at the same time.' In this idiom, it emphasizes the messy overlap of rolling and crawling.

5. Similar and Opposite Idioms

• Similar Idioms:
  • 屁滚尿流 (pì gǔn niào liú): To wet oneself in terror; a more vulgar and intense way to describe a panicked flight.
  • 抱头鼠窜 (bào tóu shǔ cuàn): To cover one's head and scurry away like a rat; describes a miserable and cowardly retreat.
  • 惊慌失措 (jīng huāng shī cuò): To be so scared or surprised that one doesn't know what to do.link
• Opposite Idioms:
  • 大摇大摆 (dà yáo dà bǎi): To strut or swagger; walking in a self-important or boastful manner.
  • 从容不迫 (cóng róng bù pò): Calm and unhurried; maintaining composure even under pressure.link
  • 大模大样 (dà mú dà yàng): To act in a grand and ostentatious manner.link

6. Summary

The idiom 连滚带爬 (lián gǔn dài pá) describes someone moving desperately, often in a state of panic, where they are literally or figuratively rolling and crawling to get away or get somewhere. It captures a visual of someone who has lost their composure and is scrambling for safety or speed, often appearing clumsy or pathetic.