1 to rip one's robe as a sign of repudiating a sworn brotherhood (idiom)
2 to break all friendly ties
单丝不成线，独木不成林
dān sī bù chéng xiàn , dú mù bù chéng lín
1 one strand does not make a thread, one tree does not make a forest (idiom)
快刀断乱麻
kuài dāo duàn luàn má
1 lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
2 cutting the Gordian knot
应机立断
yìng jī lì duàn
1 to act on an opportunity (idiom); to take prompt advantage of a situation
投鞭断流
tóu biān duàn liú
1 arms enough to stem the stream (idiom); formidable army
接连不断
jiē lián bù duàn
1 in unbroken succession (idiom)
放长线钓大鱼
fàng cháng xiàn diào dà yú
1 use a long line to catch a big fish (idiom); a long-term plan for major returns
断港绝潢
duàn gǎng jué huáng
1 to be unable to continue
2 to come to a dead end (idiom)
断章取义
duàn zhāng qǔ yì
1 to quote out of context (idiom)
断线风筝
duàn xiàn fēng zhēng
1 a kite with cut string (idiom); fig. gone beyond recall
断袖之癖
duàn xiù zhī pǐ
1 lit. cut sleeve (idiom); fig. euphemism for homosexuality, originating from History of Western Han 漢書|汉书: emperor Han Aidi (real name Liu Xin) was in bed with his lover Dong Xian, and had to attend a court audience that morning. Not wishing to awaken Dong Xian, who was sleeping with his head resting on the emperor's long robe sleeve, Aidi used a knife to cut off the lower half of his sleeve.
柔肠寸断
róu cháng cùn duàn
1 lit. to feel as if one's intestines have been cut short
2 broken-hearted (idiom)
残垣断壁
cán yuán duàn bì
1 crumbling fences and dilapidated walls (idiom)
源源不断
yuán yuán bù duàn
1 a steady flow (idiom); an unending stream
独断专行
dú duàn zhuān xíng
1 to decide and act alone (idiom); to take arbitrary action
2 a law unto oneself
独断独行
dú duàn dú xíng
1 to decide and act alone (idiom); to take arbitrary action