一锤定音
yī chuí dìng yīn
to have the final say; to settle it at a stroke
Character by character
一yī
one
one
锤chuí
hammer stroke
hammer stroke
定dìng
fix
fix
音yīn
the note
the note
Example
最后还是老板一锤定音，决定签约。
In the end it was the boss who settled it and decided to sign.
Tone: neutral.
Usage and origin
From tuning a gong with a single stroke.
Learn this in Lesson 109 · HSK 7–9: 商务沟通 (Business talk and business email)
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.
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