汉英词典
Chinese-English Dictionary
MEANING OF 欲擒故纵
欲擒故纵 (欲擒故縱)
In order to capture, one must let loose. / to loosen the reins only to grasp them better
擒 catch / 纵 put / Deliberately let go of him first, let him relax, fully exposed, and then catch him
想要捉住他﹐故意先放开他。比喻为了更好地控制而故意放松一步。
qín () zòng
EXAMPLE SENTENCES

青年若有所悟:“大师,您是让我欲擒故纵放长线钓大鱼?”

If youth to think: "master, you are let me play hard to get the long?"

但是用点逆反心理怎么样?大家都知道玩欲擒故纵要比请求更加管用。

But how about a little reverse psychology? Playing hard-to-get is known to be more effective than begging.

西方国家想拉拢遭受冷落的叙利亚及其领导人巴沙尔•阿萨德,他们可能会欲擒故纵

The West wants to bring Syria and its leader, Bashar Assad, in from the cold. They may play hard to get

妈妈不晓得谁把罐子里的饼干偷吃的精光,但她知道只要她装欲擒故纵,就能抓住偷吃的人。

Mother didn't know who robbed the cookie jar, but she thought she could catch him if she gave him enough rope.