鳴金收兵

鸣金收兵
míngjīnshōubīng
to beat the gong to recall troops (idiom); to order a retreat

CEDICT

以敲鑼作信號，指揮兵士速退。《薛仁貴征遼事略》：「太宗恐小將軍有失，急鳴金收兵入城。」也作「鳴金收軍」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 鳴金 míngjīn
  1. to beat a gong
  2. to sound the retreat
2 收兵 shōubīng
  1. to retreat
  2. to withdraw troops
  3. to recall troops
  4. fig. to finish work
  5. to wind up
  6. to call it a day
  7. used with negatives: the task is far from over

Related entries

鳴金收軍 míngjīnshōujūn to beat the gong to recall troops (idiom); to order a retreat