一刀两断
yī dāo liǎng duàn
-
1 lit. two segments with a single cut (idiom)
-
2 fig. to make a clean break (idiom)
一刀切
yī dāo qiē
-
1 lit. to cut all at one stroke (idiom); to impose uniformity
-
2 one solution fits a diversity of problems
-
3 one size fits all
不听老人言，吃亏在眼前
bù tīng lǎo rén yán , chī kuī zài yǎn qián
-
1 (idiom) ignore your elders at your peril
人为刀俎，我为鱼肉
rén wéi dāo zǔ , wǒ wéi yú ròu
-
1 lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)
-
2 fig. to be at sb's mercy
借刀杀人
jiè dāo shā rén
-
1 to lend sb a knife to kill sb
-
2 to get sb else to do one's dirty work
-
3 to attack using the strength of another (idiom)
兔子不吃窝边草
tù zi bù chī wō biān cǎo
-
1 A rabbit doesn't eat the grass by its own burrow (idiom); One shouldn't do anything to harm one's neighbors.
两肋插刀
liǎng lèi chā dāo
-
1 lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom)
-
2 fig. to attach a great importance to friendship, up to the point of being able to sacrifice oneself for it
两面三刀
liǎng miàn sān dāo
-
1 two-faced, three knives (idiom); double-cross
-
2 double dealing and back stabbing
刀不磨要生锈，人不学要落后
dāo bù mó yào shēng xiù , rén bù xué yào luò hòu
-
1 a blade will get rusty if it is not sharpened; a man will fall behind if he doesn't study (idiom)
刀子嘴，豆腐心
dāo zi zuǐ , dòu fu xīn
-
1 to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart (idiom)
刀山火海
dāo shān huǒ hǎi
-
1 lit. mountains of daggers and seas of flames
-
2 fig. extreme danger (idiom)
刀枪不入
dāo qiāng bù rù
-
1 lit. impervious to sword or spear (idiom)
-
2 fig. invulnerable
-
3 untouchable
-
4 thick-skinned
-
5 impervious to criticism
刀锯斧钺
dāo jù fǔ yuè
-
1 knife, saw, ax and hatchet (idiom); facing torture and execution
割鸡焉用牛刀
gē jī yān yòng niú dāo
-
1 lit. why use a pole-ax to slaughter a chicken? (idiom)
-
2 fig. to waste effort on a trifling matter
-
3 also written 殺雞焉用牛刀|杀鸡焉用牛刀[shā jī yān yòng niú dāo]
又要马儿跑，又要马儿不吃草
yòu yào mǎ r5 pǎo , yòu yào mǎ r5 bù chī cǎo
-
1 lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
-
2 fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too
吃一堑，长一智
chī yī qiàn , zhǎng yī zhì
-
1 Fall into the moat and you'll be wiser next time (idiom); One only learns from one's mistakes.
吃不了兜着走
chī bu liǎo dōu zhe zǒu
-
1 lit. if you can't eat it all, you'll have to take it home (idiom)
-
2 fig. you'll have to take the consequences
吃人家的嘴软，拿人家的手短
chī rén jiā de zuǐ ruǎn , ná rén jiā de shǒu duǎn
-
1 lit. the mouth that has been fed by others is soft, the hand that has received doesn't reach (idiom)
-
2 fig. one is partial to those from whom presents have been accepted
吃人血馒头
chī rén xuè mán tou
-
1 to take advantage of others' misfortune (idiom)
吃力不讨好
chī lì bù tǎo hǎo
-
1 arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding