in intense preparation for an event; literally: intense sounds of gongs and drums
Cantonese
年年马季开锣都有唔少马迷想发达掘草皮。
年年馬季開鑼都有唔少馬迷想發達掘草皮。
Every year, when the racing season begins, there are plenty of gamblers that dream of winning money.
Cantonese
马季开锣
馬季開鑼
maa5 gwai3 hoi1 lo4
the horse racing season begins
Examples (Wiktionary)
Mandarin
好在延安许多同志已有详尽的文章,我的粗枝大叶的东西,就当作一番开台锣鼓好了。
好在延安許多同志已有詳盡的文章,我的粗枝大葉的東西,就當作一番開台鑼鼓好了。
hǎo zài yá nān xǔ duō tóng zhì yǐ yǒu xiáng jìn de wén zhāng , wǒ de cū zhī dà yè de dōng xi , jiù dàng zuò yī fān kāi tái luó gǔ hǎo le .
Fortunately, there are many comrades in Yenan who have written at length in this field, so that my rough and ready words may serve the same purpose as the beating of the gongs before a theatrical performance.