1 lit. to first show one's horns (idiom); fig. a first show of emerging talent
2 first sign of emerging talent
3 budding genius
勾心斗角
gōu xīn dòu jiǎo
1 to fight and scheme against each other (idiom)
2 (in palace construction) elaborate and refined
崭露头角
zhǎn lù tóu jiǎo
1 to reveal outstanding talent (idiom); to stand out as conspicuously brilliant
强扭的瓜不甜
qiǎng niǔ de guā bù tián
1 lit. if you have to use force to break a melon off the vine, it won't taste sweet (because it's only when the melon is ripe that it can be removed with just a slight twist) (idiom)
2 fig. if sth is not meant to be, it's no use trying to force it to happen
扭转乾坤
niǔ zhuǎn qián kūn
1 lit. to upend heaven and earth (idiom)
2 fig. to change the course of events
3 to turn things around
拐弯抹角
guǎi wān mò jiǎo
1 lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom)
2 fig. to speak in a roundabout way
3 to equivocate
4 to beat about the bush
牛角挂书
niú jiǎo guà shū
1 lit. to hang one's books on cow horns (idiom)
2 fig. to be diligent in one's studies
总角之交
zǒng jiǎo zhī jiāo
1 childhood friend (idiom)
总角之好
zǒng jiǎo zhī hǎo
1 childhood friend (idiom)
钻牛角
zuān niú jiǎo
1 lit. honing a bull's horn; fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
2 to bash one's head against a brick wall
3 a wild goose chase
4 a blind alley
5 to split hairs
6 same as idiom 鑽牛角尖|钻牛角尖
钻牛角尖
zuān niú jiǎo jiān
1 lit. to penetrate into a bull's horn (idiom); fig. to waste time on an insoluble or insignificant problem
2 to bash one's head against a brick wall
3 a wild goose chase
4 a blind alley
5 to split hairs
头角峥嵘
tóu jiǎo zhēng róng
1 promise of brilliant young person (idiom); showing extraordinary gifts
凤毛麟角
fèng máo lín jiǎo
1 lit. as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns (idiom)