退堂鼓

tuìtánggǔ

退堂鼓 — tuìtánggǔ

1. to back out; to withdraw from an undertaking at the last moment; to chicken out

   他们答应要帮忙，临时又打退堂鼓了。 tāmen dāyìng yào bāngmáng línshí yòu dǎtuìtánggǔ le — They agreed to help but backed out at the last minute.

2. a drum beaten to signal the end of a court session or performance (literal meaning)

   古代有官员敲退堂鼓宣布法庭散庭。 gǔdài yǒu guānyuán qiāo tuìtánggǔ xuānbù fǎtíng sàn tíng — In ancient times officials beat the dismissal drum to announce the court was adjourned.