敬酒不吃吃罚酒

敬酒不吃吃罚酒

Literally means:

to refuse a toast only to a penalty

Actually means:

to be constrained to do what one at first refused

敬酒, a polite toast; 罚酒, a penalty drink for one who violates the rules of drinking at a banquet, here refers to being forced to drink.

This phrase figuratively means that one refuses to concede to polite words or offers yet is forced to concur under coercion.

敬酒，恭敬地请人喝酒。罚酒，在酒宴上让违约的人喝酒，这里指被迫喝酒。

敬酒不吃吃罚酒，比喻好言好语或客气的方式不接受，等到被强迫时才听从。多用于处于强势的一方对处于弱势一方。