draw in one's horns 打退堂鼓

“打退堂鼓”，中文俗语，本意是指封建官吏退堂时打鼓。现在比喻在达到目的之前先退缩、放弃（give up a pursuit without attaining¹ the goal），与英文习语“draw in one's horns”意思相近，可以表示“make a retreat from an earlier commitment or activity”。

 

例句：

 

镇长想要增加税收，但公众的反应使他打退堂鼓。

The town head wanted higher taxes but public reaction made him draw in his horns.

 

不要遇到一点困难就打退堂鼓。

Don't back up the moment you run up against a little difficulty.

 

现在打退堂鼓已经太晚了。

It's too late to back down now.

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