1 lit. the best wine is at the bottom of the jug (idiom)
2 fig. the best is saved for last
好酒贪杯
hào jiǔ tān bēi
1 fond of the bottle (idiom)
对酒当歌
duì jiǔ dāng gē
1 lit. sing to accompany wine (idiom); fig. life is short, make merry while you can
尸位素餐
shī wèi sù cān
1 to hold a sinecure (idiom)
强弩之末
qiáng nǔ zhī mò
1 lit. an arrow at the end of its flight (idiom)
2 fig. spent force
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
忆苦思甜
yì kǔ sī tián
1 to view one's past as miserable and one's present as happy (idiom)
把酒言欢
bǎ jiǔ yán huān
1 to drink and chat merrily (idiom)
舍本逐末
shě běn zhú mò
1 to neglect the root and pursue the tip (idiom)
2 to neglect fundamentals and concentrate on details
斗酒只鸡
dǒu jiǔ zhī jī
1 lit. a chicken and a bottle of wine (idiom); fig. ready to make an offering to the deceased, or to entertain guests
新瓶旧酒
xīn píng jiù jiǔ
1 old wine in a new bottle (idiom)
新瓶装旧酒
xīn píng zhuāng jiù jiǔ
1 old wine in a new bottle (idiom)
本末倒置
běn mò dào zhì
1 lit. to invert root and branch (idiom); fig. confusing cause and effect
2 to stress the incidental over the fundamental
3 to put the cart before the horse
杯酒解怨
bēi jiǔ jiě yuàn
1 a wine cup dissolves complaints (idiom); a few drinks can ease social interaction
杯酒言欢
bēi jiǔ yán huān
1 a few drinks and a nice conversation (idiom)
沉湎酒色
chén miǎn jiǔ sè
1 to wallow in alcohol and sex (idiom); overindulgence in wine and women
2 an incorrigible drunkard and lecher
灯红酒绿
dēng hóng jiǔ lu:4
1 lanterns red, wine green (idiom); feasting and pleasure-seeking