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吃定

English translation: having an upper hand over someone or something

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:吃定
English translation:having an upper hand over someone or something
Entered by: Wilman

00:08 Dec 12, 2005
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Slang
Chinese term or phrase: 吃定
我认为陈水扁吃定了你们， 看你们有什么选择
I would appreciate if someone can explain what this term means. Thanks.
Wilman
United States
Local time: 19:34
having an upper hand over someone or something
Explanation:
Simply put, 吃定=having an upper hand over someone or something!
Selected response from:

Philip Tang
China
Local time: 07:34
Grading comment
Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5having an upper hand over someone or something
Philip Tang
4 +3FYI
Lu Zou
5 +1There's no way out.
Last Hermit
4 +1is certain that he can take advantage of the situation
David Shen
2has got you by the short and curlies? has got you where he wants you?
chica nueva


  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
吃定
is certain that he can take advantage of the situation


Explanation:
吃定: is certain that he/she can take advantage of the situation

吃: take advantage of sth. sb. or a certain situation
定: be convinced (absolutely sure) that


David Shen
United States
Local time: 16:34
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Xiaoping Fu
33 mins
  -> Thank you!
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
吃定
FYI


Explanation:
吃定有两种含意：只对你一个，不找别人；把你搞定/拿下，完全控制住你。所以要结合上下文看。


Lu Zou
Australia
Local time: 09:34
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Peter Smith: Basically, it means, "He's got you where he wants you."
1 hr
agree  maxzhy: 完全同意。
2 hrs
agree  chica nueva
18 hrs
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
吃定
having an upper hand over someone or something


Explanation:
Simply put, 吃定=having an upper hand over someone or something!

Philip Tang
China
Local time: 07:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  brightex
52 mins
  -> THANKS!
agree  Wen Jiang
3 hrs
  -> THANKS!
agree  licullen
8 hrs
  -> THANKS!
agree  chica nueva: 占上风
18 hrs
  -> THANKS!
agree  David Shen: Hi, Commuease, you definitely have an upper hand over anybody else on this one now. Just kidding, yours is great!
1 day 1 hr
  -> Thanks David! just another(and many others) simple explanation, nothing fancy!
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
吃定
There's no way out.


Explanation:
You'll be doomed to be put at the mercy of Chan.

Last Hermit
Local time: 07:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  chica nueva: you're at his mercy
2 hrs
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
吃定
has got you by the short and curlies? has got you where he wants you?


Explanation:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/have by the short and cu...

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Note added at 9 hrs 55 mins (2005-12-12 10:03:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"have someone by the short and curlies (very informal, very informal)
to have complete power over someone. They've got us by the short and curlies. We have no choice but to agree. "

(only for spoken language)


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Note added at 9 hrs 57 mins (2005-12-12 10:05:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"He's got you where he wants you - I must have got this idea from Peter.

I have never heard 吃定 before, so just a guess...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs 16 mins (2005-12-12 18:24:13 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

having the upper hand = 占上风



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs 19 mins (2005-12-12 18:27:03 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

要吃定你 = is out to get you:

思念的足迹------------- Blogcn | 中国博客网| 博客(blog)托管商 ... - [ Translate this page ]
在忧郁的日子里，你可能变成偏执狂，觉得每个人都想要吃定你。 On blue days you can
become paranoid that everyone is out to get you. ... 芝麻球Glutinous rice sesame
balls 麻花 Hemp flowers 双胞胎Horse hooves 冰 类 绵绵冰Mein mein ice ...
wyyconnie.blogcn.com/ - 57k - 10 Dec 2005 - Cached - Similar pages



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 hrs 38 mins (2005-12-12 18:46:23 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Google search -> no evidence for 'got you by the ...' idea.

chica nueva
Local time: 11:34
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
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