一刀两断
yī dāo liǎng duàn
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1 lit. two segments with a single cut (idiom)
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2 fig. to make a clean break (idiom)
一刀切
yī dāo qiē
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1 lit. to cut all at one stroke (idiom); to impose uniformity
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2 one solution fits a diversity of problems
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3 one size fits all
一切就绪
yī qiè jiù xù
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1 everything in its place and ready (idiom)
人为刀俎,我为鱼肉
rén wéi dāo zǔ , wǒ wéi yú ròu
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1 lit. to be the meat on sb's chopping block (idiom)
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2 fig. to be at sb's mercy
借刀杀人
jiè dāo shā rén
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1 to lend sb a knife to kill sb
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2 to get sb else to do one's dirty work
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3 to attack using the strength of another (idiom)
两肋插刀
liǎng lèi chā dāo
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1 lit. knifes piercing both sides (idiom)
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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
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1 two-faced, three knives (idiom); double-cross
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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
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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
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1 to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart (idiom)
刀山火海
dāo shān huǒ hǎi
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1 lit. mountains of daggers and seas of flames
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2 fig. extreme danger (idiom)
刀枪不入
dāo qiāng bù rù
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1 lit. impervious to sword or spear (idiom)
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2 fig. invulnerable
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3 untouchable
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4 thick-skinned
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5 impervious to criticism
刀锯斧钺
dāo jù fǔ yuè
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1 knife, saw, ax and hatchet (idiom); facing torture and execution
切中时弊
qiè zhòng shí bì
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1 to hit home on the evils of the day (idiom); fig. to hit a current political target
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2 to hit the nub of the matter
切中时病
qiè zhòng shí bìng
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1 to hit the target where it hurts (idiom); fig. to hit home
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2 to hit the nail on the head (in an argument)
切中要害
qiè zhòng yào hài
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1 to hit the target and do real damage (idiom)
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2 fig. to hit where it hurts
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3 fig. to hit home
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4 an argument that hits the nail on the head
切磋琢磨
qiē cuō zhuó mó
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1 lit. cutting and polishing (idiom)
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2 fig. to learn by exchanging ideas or experiences
切齿腐心
qiè chǐ fǔ xīn
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1 to detest sth or sb to the utmost extreme (idiom)
割鸡焉用牛刀
gē jī yān yòng niú dāo
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1 lit. why use a pole-ax to slaughter a chicken? (idiom)
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2 fig. to waste effort on a trifling matter
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3 also written 殺雞焉用牛刀|杀鸡焉用牛刀[shā jī yān yòng niú dāo]
包子有肉不在褶上
bāo zi yǒu ròu bù zài zhě shàng
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1 a book is not judged by its cover (idiom)
咬牙切齿
yǎo yá qiè chǐ
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1 gnashing one's teeth (idiom); displaying extreme anger
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2 fuming with rage between gritted teeth