上梁不正下梁歪
shàng liáng bù zhèng xià liáng wāi
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1 lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
不打不成器
bù dǎ bù chéng qì
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1 spare the rod and spoil the child (idiom)
以眼还眼,以牙还牙
yǐ yǎn huán yǎn , yǐ yá huán yá
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1 an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth (idiom)
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2 fig. to use the enemy's methods against him
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3 to give sb a taste of his own medicine
伶牙俐齿
líng yá lì chǐ
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1 clever and eloquent (idiom); fluent
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2 having the gift of the gab
偏邪不正
piān xié bù zhèng
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1 biased
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2 prejudiced (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
咬紧牙关
yǎo jǐn yá guān
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1 lit. to bite the teeth tightly (idiom); fig. to grit one's teeth and bear the pain
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2 to bite the bullet
大器晚成
dà qì wǎn chéng
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1 lit. it takes a long time to make a big pot (idiom); fig. a great talent matures slowly
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2 in the fullness of time a major figure will develop into a pillar of the state
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3 Rome wasn't built in a day
就地正法
jiù dì zhèng fǎ
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1 to execute on the spot (idiom); summary execution
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2 to carry out the law on the spot
工欲善其事,必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
张牙舞爪
zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo
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1 to bare fangs and brandish claws (idiom); to make threatening gestures
扶正压邪
fú zhèng yā xié
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1 to uphold good and suppress evil (idiom)
投鼠忌器
tóu shǔ jì qì
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1 lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom)
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2 to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents
拾人牙慧
shí rén yá huì
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1 to pick up what others say (idiom); to pass off other people's opinions as one's own
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2 to parrot
舍正从邪
shě zhèng cóng xié
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1 to be corrupted by evil influences (idiom)
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
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1 to mend one's ways (idiom)
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2 to turn over a new leaf
横正暴敛
héng zhèng bào liǎn
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1 to levy exorbitant taxes (idiom)
欲善其事,必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
正中要害
zhèng zhòng yào hài
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1 to hit the nail on the head (idiom)
正襟危坐
zhèng jīn wēi zuò
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1 to sit upright and still (idiom)