上贼船
shàng zéi chuán
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1 lit. to board a pirate ship (idiom)
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2 fig. to associate with criminals
吴头楚尾
Wú tóu Chǔ wěi
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1 lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu (idiom); fig. close together
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2 head-to-tail
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3 one thing starts where the other leaves off
宁做鸡头，不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
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1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
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2 fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
宁拆十座庙，不毁一桩婚
níng chāi shí zuò miào , bù huì yī zhuāng hūn
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1 rather destroy ten temples than a single marriage (idiom)
尾大不掉
wěi dà bù diào
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1 large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy
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2 fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates
彻头彻尾
chè tóu chè wěi
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1 lit. from head to tail (idiom); thoroughgoing
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2 through and through
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3 out and out
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4 from top to bottom
摇头摆尾
yáo tóu bǎi wěi
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1 to nod one's head and wag one's tail (idiom)
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2 to be well pleased with oneself
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3 to have a lighthearted air
有头有尾
yǒu tóu yǒu wěi
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1 where there's a start, there's a finish (idiom); to finish once one starts sth
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2 to carry things through
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3 I started, so I'll finish.
有头无尾
yǒu tóu wú wěi
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1 to start but not finish (idiom); to fail to carry things through
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2 lack of sticking power
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3 short attention span
水涨船高
shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo
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1 the tide rises, the boat floats (idiom); fig. to change with the overall trend
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2 to develop according to the situation
狐狸尾巴
hú li wěi ba
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1 lit. fox's tail (idiom); visible sign of evil intentions
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2 to reveal one's evil nature
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3 evidence that reveals the villain
狗尾续貂
gǒu wěi xù diāo
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1 lit. to use a dog's tail as a substitute for sable fur (idiom)
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2 fig. a worthless sequel to a masterpiece
畏首畏尾
wèi shǒu wèi wěi
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1 afraid of the head, terrified of the tail (idiom); ever fearful and nervous
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2 afraid of the slightest thing
脚踏两条船
jiǎo tà liǎng tiáo chuán
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1 lit. to stand with each foot in a different boat (idiom)
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2 fig. to have it both ways
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3 to run after two hares
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4 (especially) to have two lovers at the same time
船到桥门自会直
chuán dào qiáo mén zì huì zhí
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1 lit. when the ship arrives at the bridge we can deal with the problem
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2 no point in worrying about sth until it actually happens (idiom)
船到江心，补漏迟
chuán dào jiāng xīn , bǔ lòu chí
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1 It's too late to plug the leak once ship is in the middle of the river. (idiom)
船到码头，车到站
chuán dào mǎ tóu , chē dào zhàn
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1 The ship has docked, the carriage has reached the station.
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2 The job is over, it's time to relax. (idiom)
草船借箭
cǎo chuán jiè jiàn
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1 lit. using straw boats to borrow arrows (idiom, from 三國演義|三国演义[Sān guó Yǎn yì])
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2 fig. to use others' manpower and resources for one's own ends
藏头露尾
cáng tóu lù wěi
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1 to hide the head and show the tail (idiom); to give a partial account
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2 half-truths
虎尾春冰
hǔ wěi chūn bīng
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1 lit. like stepping on a tiger's tail or spring ice (idiom)
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2 fig. extremely dangerous situation