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
心乱如麻
xīn luàn rú má
1 one's thoughts in a whirl (idiom); confused
2 disconcerted
3 upset
快刀斩乱麻
kuài dāo zhǎn luàn má
1 lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
2 cutting the Gordian knot
快刀断乱麻
kuài dāo duàn luàn má
1 lit. quick sword cuts through tangled hemp (idiom); decisive action in a complex situation
2 cutting the Gordian knot
捡了芝麻丢了西瓜
jiǎn le zhī ma diū le xī guā
1 to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)
杀人如麻
shā rén rú má
1 lit. to kill people like scything flax (idiom)
2 fig. to kill people like flies
滚瓜烂熟
gǔn guā làn shú
1 lit. ripe as a melon that rolls from its vine (idiom); fig. to know fluently
2 to know sth inside out
3 to know sth by heart
王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸
wáng pó mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
1 every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
2 all one's geese are swans
瓜熟蒂落
guā shú dì luò
1 when the melon is ripe, it falls (idiom); problems sort themselves out in the fullness of time
瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠
guā tián bù nà lu:3 , lǐ xià bù zhěng guān
1 lit. don't tie your shoelaces in a melon patch, and don't adjust your hat under a plum tree (idiom)
2 fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion
3 innocent acts may be misconstrued
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆
zhòng guā dé guā , zhòng dòu dé dòu
1 lit. Sow melon and you get melon, sow beans and you get beans (idiom); fig. As you sow, so shall you reap.
2 One must live with the consequences of one's actions.
3 You've made your bed, now must lie on it.
老王卖瓜，自卖自夸
Lǎo Wáng mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
1 every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
2 all one's geese are swans
闭塞眼睛捉麻雀
bì sè yǎn jīng zhuō má què
1 lit. to catch sparrows blindfolded (idiom)
2 fig. to act blindly
陈谷子烂芝麻
chén gǔ zi làn zhī ma
1 lit. stale grain, overcooked sesame (idiom); fig. the same boring old gossip
麻雀虽小，五脏俱全
má què suī xiǎo , wǔ zàng jù quán
1 The sparrow may be small but all its vital organs are there (idiom).