1 complete change from the normal state (idiom); quite uncharacteristic
2 entirely outside the norm
3 out of character
予以照顾
yǔ yǐ zhào gù
1 to ask sb to carefully consider a request (idiom)
出尔反尔
chū ěr fǎn ěr
1 old: to reap the consequences of one's words (idiom, from Mencius); modern: to go back on one's word
2 to blow hot and cold
3 to contradict oneself
4 inconsistent
反唇相讥
fǎn chún xiāng jī
1 to answer back sarcastically (idiom)
2 to retort
反客为主
fǎn kè wéi zhǔ
1 lit. the guest acts as host (idiom); fig. to turn from passive to active behavior
反败为胜
fǎn bài wéi shèng
1 to turn defeat into victory (idiom); to turn the tide
反目成仇
fǎn mù chéng chóu
1 to become enemies (idiom); to fall out with sb
反脸无情
fǎn liǎn wú qíng
1 to turn one's face against sb and show no mercy (idiom); to turn against a friend
反裘负刍
fǎn qiú fù chú
1 lit. to wear one's coat inside out and carry firewood on one's back (idiom)
2 fig. to live a life of poverty and hard work
3 fig. to act stupidly
报本反始
bào běn fǎn shǐ
1 ensure that you pay debts of gratitude (idiom)
夫妻反目
fū qī fǎn mù
1 man and wife fall out (idiom, from Book of Changes); marital strife
官逼民反
guān bī mín fǎn
1 a government official drives the people to revolt (idiom); a minister provokes a rebellion by exploiting the people
易如反掌
yì rú fǎn zhǎng
1 easy as a hand's turn (idiom); very easy
2 no effort at all
欲益反损
yù yì fǎn sǔn
1 wishing for profit, but causing loss (idiom); good intentions that lead to disaster
2 It all ends in tears.
照葫芦画瓢
zhào hú lu huà piáo
1 lit. to draw a dipper with a gourd as a model (idiom)
2 fig. to copy slavishly
照猫画虎
zhào māo huà hǔ
1 lit. drawing a tiger using a cat as a model (idiom); fig. to follow a model and get things more or less right but without capturing the spirit of the subject
2 uninspired imitation
物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
1 when things reach an extreme, they can only move in the opposite direction (idiom)
率尔操觚
shuài ěr cāo gū
1 to compose in off-hand way (idiom); to dash off
率兽食人
shuài shòu shí rén
1 lit. to lead beasts to eat the people (idiom); fig. tyrannical government oppresses the people