刀光剑影

dāo guāng jiàn yǐng

the flash of blades: fierce fighting or a murderous atmosphere; figuratively, cut-throat rivalry

Character by character

刀dāo
sabre

光guāng
gleam

剑jiàn
sword

影yǐng
shadow

表面上大家客客气气，其实这场谈判刀光剑影。

On the surface everyone was polite, but the negotiation was a real knife fight.

Tone: neutral.

Literal in wuxia fiction; figurative of business, office politics or diplomacy: 商场上刀光剑影.

Learn this in Lesson 224 · HSK 9+: 金庸与江湖 (Jin Yong and the world of the jianghu)

A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.