马不离鞍mǎ bù lí ān

the horses remain saddled—keep ready for action
❍ 马匪特别命令： “白天枪不离手，夜间枪不离怀，昼夜白黑～。”(曲波《林海雪原》482)Ma issued a special order: “Your gun may not leave your hand during the day nor your chest at night. Day and night,the horses are to remain saddled.”