画龙点睛
huà lóng diǎn jīngTo add the finishing touch; to put the final touch on something; to make something perfect or complete
这幅画缺少画龙点睛的一笔。
This painting lacks the finishing touch.
他的演讲画龙点睛地结束了。
His speech ended with a perfect finishing touch.
This idiom originates from a famous story about a painter who could paint dragons but needed to add the eyes to bring them to life. It is often used to describe the crucial final step that completes a work or idea.
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💡Pro Tip
Usage Tip
This idiom is often used in literary or artistic contexts, but it can also be applied to any situation where a final, crucial step is needed to complete something.
📖Word Origin
The idiom comes from a legend about a painter who could paint dragons but needed to add the eyes (点睛) to make them come alive. The final touch of adding the eyes was the crucial step that completed the artwork.
📝Usage Notes
This idiom is often used to describe the final, essential step that perfects something. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on whether the final touch is successful or not.