Meaning:

Originating from the Chinese gaming jargon, which translates to “extreme pull and push,” this expression denotes the intricate maneuvers of two highly skilled gamers employing a diverse array of strategies to engage in combat, marked by precision and finesse. In a broader sense, this term captures the tangled and tumultuous mental state faced when confronting difficult decisions. For instance, if someone is on a diet but craves food, they can say: “My physical and mental impulses are pulling in two extreme directions.” Furthermore, it commonly describes a scenario where two individuals romantically drawn to each other engage in a dance of subtle communication, testing the waters without readily divulging their true feelings and intentions.

Example:

A: 杰克和萝丝似乎很喜欢对方。

Jiékè hé luósī sìhū hěn xǐhuan duìfāng。

Jack and Rose seem to like each other a lot.

B: 是的，他俩大概享受极限拉扯的感觉，就是不表白。

Shì de， tāliǎ dàgài xiǎngshòu jíxiàn lāchě de gǎnjué， jiùshì bù biǎobái。

True. They probably take pleasure in the delicacy of feeling each other out, choosing not to confess their emotions.