隔岸观火

géànguānhuǒ

隔岸观火 — géànguānhuǒ

1. to watch the fires burning across the river; to delay entering a conflict until others have weakened each other (idiom)

   他在一旁隔岸观火，不出手相助。 tā zài yīpáng géànguānhuǒ bùchū shǒuxiàng zhù — He stood aside and watched the conflict unfold, refusing to help.