binh đáo quan thành

Definition
  1. Idiom:
    • "The troops have arrived at the city walls": A classical Chinese-origin idiom (Vietnamese: thành ngữ gốc Hán) describing a critical situation where a problem or threat has become immediate and pressing, having developed to its most severe or final stage. It emphasizes that a matter can no longer be ignored or dealt with later.
Usage Examples
  • Idiom:
    • Công ty sắp phá sản, thực sự là binh đáo quan thành rồi. (The company is about to go bankrupt; it's truly a case of the troops being at the city walls.)
    • Đến lúc binh đáo quan thành họ mới lo chạy chữa thì đã muộn. (By the time the crisis was at its peak, it was too late for them to start seeking remedies.)
Advanced Usage
  • The idiom is often used to criticize a lack of foresight or preparation, highlighting that action is only taken when a situation has become dire and urgent.
Variants and Related Words
  • Nước đến chân mới nhảy: (Vietnamese idiom) "To jump only when the water reaches one's feet." A more colloquial Vietnamese phrase with a very similar meaning of acting only at the last minute under pressure.
Synonyms
  • The eleventh hour: The latest possible time before it is too late.
  • Critical juncture: A crucial point in a situation.
  • At a climax: Reaching the most intense point.
Related Idioms
  • Mất bò mới lo làm chuồng: (Vietnamese idiom) "To build the stable only after losing the cow." Meaning to take preventive action too late, after the damage has already occurred.