秋後算賬

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Chinese

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autumn; fall; harvest time
autumn; fall; harvest time; a swing
 
back; behind; rear
back; behind; rear; afterwards; after; later
 
to do accounts; to balance the books; to make out the bills
trad. (秋後算賬) 算賬
simp. (秋后算账) 算账
alternative forms 秋後算帳秋后算帐
Literally: “settling accounts after the autumn harvest”.

Etymology

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From the historical judicial practice where less-serious prisoners on death row would not be executed immediately after sentencing, but during autumn.

Pronunciation

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Idiom

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秋後算賬

  1. to wait until the time is ripe to settle accounts, to bide time for revenge
  2. to get revenge after a matter is over