一盘散沙
yī pán sǎn shā
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1 lit. like a sheet of loose sand
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2 fig. unable to cooperate (idiom)
一着不慎,满盘皆输
yī zhāo bù shèn , mǎn pán jiē shū
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1 One careless move and the whole game is lost. (idiom)
上不得台盘
shàng bù dé tái pán
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1 too uncouth to appear in public (idiom)
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2 unfit for a public role
儿孙自有儿孙福
ér sūn zì yǒu ér sūn fú
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1 younger generations will do all right on their own (idiom)
八字还没一撇儿
bā zì hái méi yī piě r5
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1 lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八 (idiom)
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2 fig. things have not even begun to take shape
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3 no sign of success yet
劈头盖脸
pī tóu gài liǎn
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1 lit. splitting the head and covering the face (idiom); fig. pelting (with rain etc)
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2 showering down
又要马儿跑,又要马儿不吃草
yòu yào mǎ r5 pǎo , yòu yào mǎ r5 bù chī cǎo
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1 lit. you can't expect the horse to run fast but not let it graze (idiom)
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2 fig. you can't have your cake and eat it, too
反脸无情
fǎn liǎn wú qíng
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1 to turn one's face against sb and show no mercy (idiom); to turn against a friend
咬人狗儿不露齿
yǎo rén gǒu r5 bù lù chǐ
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1 lit. the dog that bites does not show its fangs (idiom)
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2 fig. You can't tell the really dangerous enemy from his external appearance.
唱白脸
chàng bái liǎn
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1 to play the role of the villain (idiom)
唱红脸
chàng hóng liǎn
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1 to play the role of the hero (idiom)
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2 to play the good cop
少女露笑脸,婚事半成全
shào nu:3 lù xiào liǎn , hūn shì bàn chéng quán
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1 When the girl smiles, the matchmaker's job is half done. (idiom)
愁眉苦脸
chóu méi kǔ liǎn
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1 to look anxious (idiom)
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2 to look miserable
打小算盘
dǎ xiǎo suàn pán
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1 lit. to count on a narrow abacus (idiom); petty and scheming selfishly
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2 concerned with petty interests
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3 selfish and uncaring of the interests of others
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4 bean counter
打肿脸充胖子
dǎ zhǒng liǎn chōng pàng zi
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1 lit. to swell one's face up by slapping it to look imposing (idiom); to seek to impress by feigning more than one's abilities
抹不下脸
mǒ bù xià liǎn
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1 to be unable to keep a straight face (idiom)
杯盘狼藉
bēi pán láng jí
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1 cups and dishes in complete disorder (idiom); after a riotous drinking party
死皮赖脸
sǐ pí lài liǎn
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1 brazen faced (idiom); shameless
没头没脸
méi tóu méi liǎn
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1 lit. without head, without face (idiom)
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2 fig. frenzily
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3 haphazardly