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1 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕草绳 Once bitten, twice shy. 一言既出，驷马难追 A word spoken is past recalling. 一见钟情 to fall in love at first sight 一箭双鵰/一举两得 Kill two birds with one stone. 一寸光阴一寸金 Time is money. 一失足成千古恨 The error committed on impulse may turn out to be the sorrow of a whole life. 一将功名万古枯 What millions died that Caesar might be great. 一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨 Plan your year in spring and your day at dawn. 一人难称百人意 You cannot please everyone. 一气呵成 Never make two bites of a cherry. 一白遮三丑 A white complexion is powerful enough to hide seven faults. 一知半解 A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. 一心一意 John is a person who always works with undivided attention. 一丘之貉 These people are cut from the same cloth./are tarred with the same brush. 一目了然 His words just leapt to the eye. Do you need me to explain it? 一帆风顺 His business has gone off without a hitch. 一刻千金 You have to make good use of time. After all, every time counts. 一事无成 I am happy to know that all have ended in smoke about him. 一败涂地 The outcome of the election just bit the dust. 一针见血 His comment on the current affairs always hits the right nail on the head. 一清二楚 The accounts don't seem to be as clear as crystal. 一意孤行 That boy is always going her own way. He won't listen to his parents' advice. 一落千丈 My son's schoolwork has gone to pot. He really lets me down. 一鸣惊人 His performance at school really comes as a bombshell. 一诺千金 He never goes back on his word. He is as good as his word. 一时兴起 Don't always do things by fits and snatches. 一蹴可及 You should know that it is impossible to make it at one stroke. 一筹莫展 I really have no idea what to do. Now I am at my wit's end. 一览无遗 If you stand here looking down at the city. The wonderful scene will be in full view. 一窍不通 What you said is all Greek to me. 一视同仁 He treats everyone across the board. 一模一样 These twins look as like as two peas. 一时兴起 He does everything on the spur of the moment. 2 九死一生 to have a hair-breadth escape 九牛一毛 Compared with mine, his was simply a drop in the bucket. 人生如梦 Life is but a dream. 人生自古谁无死 Death comes to all men. 人生百岁古来稀 It is seldom that a man lives to be a hundred years old. 人定胜天 Man can conquer nature. 人不可貌相 Appearances are often deceptive./ Never judge a look by its cover. 人生而平等 All men are created equal. 人山人海 How many people are there in the stadium? Believe it or not, a sea of faces 人之常情 It's hamun nature for me to help those who need help. 人云亦云 Don't echo others' words. Sometimes you've got to find out the truth. 人去楼空 Regretful to say, when the master was absent, his mansion was dead. 人面兽心 He is cruel enought to kill that girl; he's really a wolf in sheep's clothing. 人言可畏 Always remember what I say to you. Opinion rules the world. (Fling dirt enought and some will stick.) 十年风水轮流转 Every dog has its day. 十全十美 The show just leaves nothing to be desired. 十拿九稳 We have winning the game in the bag. 十万火急 I am writing in hot haste to let you know that I will be there on time. 了无瓜葛 That politician claimed that he had nothing to do with that scandal. 力不从心 A:Can you do me a favor? B:Sorry, my spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. 力挽狂澜 He tried to stem the tide, but in vain. 入境随俗 Do in Rome as the Romans do. 入木三分 It actually gave a vivid picture of cut the quick. (leave an indelible impression) 七上八下 Don't talk to me now because I am greatly upse now. (with one's heart going pitapat) 七 窍生烟 He was in a great fury (fuming with anger; in a great rage; terribly furious) and swore to get even with the opposite(跟对方报复). 七零八落 After the quake, the buildings went to rock and ruin. 八面玲珑 In fact, she dances and sings all weathers. (her mill goes with all winds.) 3 三思而后行 Look before you leap. 三句不离本行 to talk shop 三个臭皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮 Two heads are better than one. 三番两次 This guy is at me(找我碴) time after time.(time and again; time and time again.) 三缄其口 You'd better hold your peace, or you'll ask for trouble. 千钧一发 to hang by a hair thread / at the critical time 千锤百炼 A good nail does not fear the hammer. (steeled and tempered; gone through fire and water) 千载难逢 It only happens once in a blue moon. (It chances in an hour that happens not in seven years.) 千变万化 The unexpected always happens. 大刀阔斧 It's said that the new executive will go the whole hog (reform in a big way.) 大 同小异 The two articles are much of muchness ( be alike with minor difference ; There's not a pin to choose between the two ) in appearance and quality. 大言不惭 You really blow your own trumpet. (talk big; overshoot oneself) 大快朵颐 They are so delicious that I ate my fill. (gorge oneself; tuck in at; have [take] one's fill.) 大功告成 The big project finally came off with honors (bring home the bacon; come thoough with flying colors). 大智若愚 He who canot play the fool is not a wise man. 大器晚成 Rome was not built in a day. 大海捞针 Finding your lost contact lens is just like looking for a needle in a haystack. 山穷水尽 at the end of one's resources 山中无老虎，猴子称大王 Among the blind the one-eyed is king./When the cat's away, the mice will pay. 小 题大做 Make a mountain out of a molehill. ( fuss about trifles; a tempest in a teapot; a storm in a teacup; break a butterfly on a wheel ) 小洞不补，大来吃苦 A stitch in time saves nine. 小不忍则乱大谋 Patience is a virtue. 工欲善其事，必先利其器 You cannot make bricks without straw. 己所不欲勿施于人 Do unto others as you would be done. 仁者无敌 The benevolent have no enemy. 工欲善其事必先利器 You cannot make bricks without straw. 亡羊补牢 Better late than never./ It's never too late to mend. 上气不接下气 I got out of breath when I climbed those stairs. 寸步不离 He always keeps book at his elbow. (keep close to) 口若悬河 He always talks nine words at once. (rattle on) 口是心非 He often speaks with his tongue in his cheek. (play a double game; say one thing and mean another ) 口蜜腹剑 A honey tongue, a heart of gall. ( be nasty-nice; Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails. ) 久别情疏 Out of sight, out of mind. (Far from eye, far from heart. Long absent, soon forgotten. Seldom seen, soon forgotten.) 4 不告而别 to take French leave 不要不自量力 Don't put a quarter into a pint pot. 不要厚此薄彼 Don't make fish of one and flesh of another. 不畏艰难 Take the bull by the horns. 不战而屈人之兵 The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. 不入虎穴焉得虎子 How can one obtain tiger-cubs without entering the tiger's lair. 不经一事，不长一智 Experience is the mother of wisdom. 不舍画夜(24小时) Some convenience stores offer around the clock service. 不胜其烦 Your little brother is a pain in the neck. 不可一世 I really don't know why she is always as proud as a peacock. 不可救药 His deep-rooted bad habits are simply beyond remedy. 不由自主 He is often absent-minded and dozed off in spite of himself in class. 不自量力 If he does so, he really goes beyond his depth. No one can beat that guy. (bite off more than one ches; overreach oneself; 不 屈不挠 Although he has failed several times, he still keeps his chin up. (as steady as a rock; firm and unyielding; fight for tooth and nail; hang on by the eyelashes; stick to one's color) 不知死活 John is really heedless of consequences. I believe some day he will ask for trouble. 不知好歹 Take my advice into consideration. Don't know chalk from cheese. 不耻下问 To improve your studies, you got to be not above asking questions. 不假思索 He is good at speech. He often speaks impromptu. 不偏不倚 You should believe that the judge held the scales even. 不 期而遇 I came across an old friend of mine in a department store. (chance to meet; bump into; come upon; meet...accidentally/unexpectedly/by chance/by accident) 不速之客 You are really a thick-skinned and gate-crasher. 不义之财 Don't be envious. Ill-gotten money comes easily and goes easily too. 不谋而合 Do you see eye to eye with him on that plan? 不厌其烦 The teacher often takes the trouble to instruct his pupils. 不遗余力 But the conspirators leave no avenue unexplored to re-establish contact with Britain. 不择手段 He just did the work by hook or by crook. 不翼而飞 Did you see that plane? It seems that it just vanished from sight. 不声不响 It's implite for one to be as quiet/silent/still as a mouse and left. 不识抬举 Bring a cow to the hall and she will run to the byre. (Give him enough rope and he will hang himself.) 少年老成 to have an old head on young shoulders 少不更事 Although she is 20, she was still wet behind the ears in some ways. 天无绝人之路 God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. 天下乌鸦一般黑 Crows are black all over the world. 天无绝人之路 God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb./ When one door shuts another opens. 天助自助者 Heaven helps those who help themselves. 天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福 It is the unexpected that always happens. 天衣无缝 These two ideas just fit like a glove. 天涯海角 I'll find him to the ends of the earth. (out-of-the-way places; the uttermost part of the earth) 天经地义 It's a matter of course to respect our elders. (a universal truth; it goes without saying that...) 毛遂自荐 to recommend one's own person 心正不怕雷打 A good conscience is a soft pillow. 心甘情愿 He did all this of his own accord. 心不在焉 You look absent-minded; what's wrong? 心满意足 The little boy sat there smiling, as happy as a clam. 心力交瘁 I don't know what to do. I just burned the candle at both ends. 心灰意冷 He was in black despair when he failed in the joint examination.(down in the bushes/in the dumps/lose heart 心有余悸 A burned child dreads the fires. (Once bitten, twice shy) 心安理得 No matter what he said, I have the peace of mind. (have an easy conscience) 心血来潮 He did it just on the impulse of the moment. 心花怒放 My heart sings with joy because I receive over 300 letters a week from people around the world 心直口快 John is frank and out spoken, so I prefer to remain with him. 心满意足 You can eat to your heart's content. 心猿意马 He often carry fire in one hand and water in the other. 心旷神怡 Standing here feel on top of the world. 化干戈为玉帛 Bury the tomahwak(hatchet). 仁者无敌 The benevolent have no enemy. 今日事今日毕 Never put off till tomorrow what may be done today. 文胜于武 The pen is mightier than the sword. 文不对题 His composition is wide of the mark. ( beside the point ) 六亲不认 As to the business, he often cuts loose from old ties. ( turn one's back on one's own flesh and blood ) 火上加油 Don't bother her, or you'll pour oil on the flame. 支离破碎 The car was so seriously damaged that it was torn to pieces. (in shreds; rip apart) 匹夫之勇 Fighting with him is just courage without discipline . (brute courage) 比比皆是 This kind of mall can be found here and there and everywhere. (right and left) 切肤之痛 No one knows where the shoe pinches like the wearer. 夫唱妇随 A good Jack makes a good Jill. 引狼入室 I know I'll set a fox to keep the geese if I take him for a good friend. 引以为荣 I am really proud of myself. (plume oneself on; pride oneself on; take pride in) 日薄西山 Now he knows that his days are numbered. (not to be long for this world; The sands are running out.) 水乳交融 That couple are really hand and (in) glove with each other. (be finger and glove with) 水 性杨花 They got divorced for he thinks his wife was unstable as water. (as changeable as the moon; A woman's mind and winter wind change off.) 水深火热 The rebels were in deep water and oppressed every day. 水 落石出 The police are now looking into the case, and I suppose, the truth will out soon. (be brought to light; come out in the wash; Murder is out Truth lies at the bottom of a well.) 分文不值 What you bought yesterday is actually not worth a dump. 分身乏术 I'm now doing my homework, so I can't be in two places at once. 分秒必争 Every minute counts. 分道扬标镳 They have already gone separate ways. (part company) 化险为夷 It is John who helps me weather the storm. (escape/go/get off scot-free; bear a charmed life) 斤斤计较 Forget about it. Don't strain at gnat. He needs money lately. (look at both sides of a penny; skin a flint) 5 以身作则 You got to practice what one practices. ( set a good example for others) 以毒攻毒 to set a thief to catch a thief 以怨报德 He is a person who bites the hand that feeds one. 以逸待劳 To wait at ease till the enemy is exhausted. 以寡敌众 to fight against longer odds 以德报怨 I think it is better for you to render/return good for evil . 以其人之道还治其人之身 Set a thief to catch a thief. 以子之矛，攻子之盾 to turn a person's battery against himself 以柔克刚 Willows are weak yet they bind other wood. (Soft and fair goes far.) 以和为贵 A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit. 以 卵击石 What you do is throw a straw against the wind. (run one's head against a stone wall; Whether the pitcher strikes the stone or the stone strikes the pitcher, it is bad for the pitcher.) 四大皆空 All is vanity. 四海之内皆兄弟 All are brothers within the four seas. 四面八方 These folks come from in all directions (far and wide; there and everywere; length and breadth) 四海为家 I don't know where Jack is now; in my mind, he is a person who is here today and gone tomorrow. 未雨绸缪 Keep some extra money for a fainy day. 目不识丁 not know A from B / an illiterate 失败为成功之母 Failure is the mother of success. 失之毫厘，差之千里 A miss is as good as a mile. 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 Little strokes fell great oaks. 毛遂自荐 to recommend one's own person 毛 骨悚然 That weird-looking person really makes my hair stand on end. (get goose bumps; make one creep all over; make one's flesh creep) 打落水狗 to hit a person when he's down 打铁趁热 Strike while the iron is hot.(Make hay while the sun is shining.) 打抱不平 He often bullies you. I really take up the cudgel for you. 打草惊蛇 Let's stay here in order not to wake a sleeping dog. (wake a sleeping lion/woof) 犯错是人之常情，宽恕是超凡的 To err is human; to forgive divine. 只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 Little strokes fell great oaks. 白费唇舌 to waste your breath on him 生于忧患，死于安乐 Adversity spurs vitality, while comfort breeds sloth . 永垂不朽 The general's name will be always remembered and eternally immortal. 平白无故 Don't take others' money without rhyme or reason. (without provocation) 平分秋色 He did quite well, but I still think his is one equal terms with her. 平 步青云 What an amazing thing! He should make a smashing hit in short a time. (beat the top of the ladder; come to the top over night; hit the jackpot; skyrocket to fame) 平易近人 He is a person easy to get along with. (be well disposed; free and easy; have a taking way with one have the common touch) 未 雨绸缪 Don't take everyting for granted. It's better for you to lay up against a rainy day. (prepare for foul in fair weather; prepare for a rainy day) 功败垂成 I hate to tell you that your plan is a slip betwixt cup and the lip. 可歌可泣 His sacrifice for the country set us in a melting mood. 本末倒置 Don't put the cart before the horse. 甘拜下风 Would you like to play with me again? No, I'd rather play second fiddle. 甘之如饴 He lived a plain life and smacked his lips. 世外桃源 Switzerland is like Utopia, which I always dream of visiting. 世界末日 Don't be so depressed. It's not Doomsday. 半 斤八两 John is no better than Peter. They are just Tweedledum and Tweedledee. (be as broad as it is long; six of one and half a dozen of the other) 半信半疑 A: Jimmy will invite you to dinner tonight? B: No, I don't think so. I will take it half in doubt. ( take with a grain of salt) 石沉大海 I couldn't find her. It seemed that her whereabouts sank into oblivion. 左右逢源 It appears that everything goes well with him. 司空见惯 The situation is already order of the day. (par for the course) 目瞪口呆 She was already tongue-tied, and didn't what to do. (lose one's tongue; struck dumb; stunned and speechless) 目光如豆 He is a person who sees no further than his nose. 出尔反尔 He is not a guy worthy of our trust. He often goes back on his word. (blow hot and cold) 出口成章 He is a learned person. His tongue is the pen of a ready writer. 出人头地 Through his hard work, he finally came to the fore. 出类拔萃 John towers above the rest in math. (in a class by itself; out of the common run) 史无前例 His excellent performance at that play is without precedent in history. 令人发指 His cruelty to animals make our hair stand on end. 令人咋舌 What he did really took my breath away. 付之一炬 Because of a blast, that new house just committed to the flames. 生龙活虎 Nessie says it is alive and kicking under different names By Sussy. 仗势欺人 John always pulls rank on others. 白手起家 He is a successful business who started from scratch. 6 任劳任怨 to bear hardship without complaint 自作自受 As you make your bed so you must lie on it. 自讨苦吃 to make a rod for one's own back 自力更生 to shift for oneself 自扫门前雪 After us the deluge. 回头浪子 the return of a prodigal 先下手为强 Offence is the best defence. 同甘共苦 to share one's joys and sorrows 因地制宜 act according to circumstances 有勇无谋 more brave than wise 有备无患 Good watch prevents misfortune. 有志者事竟成 Where there is a will, there is a way. 有钱能使鬼推磨 Money makes the world go around. /Money talks. 有其父必有其子 Like father, like son. 江山易改本性难移 The child is father of the man. 江山易改本性难移 A leopard cannot change it's spots. 百无一失 Not a single miss in a hundred times. 百依百顺 She expects us to jump through hoops for her. 百闻不如一见 To see is to believe. (Seeing is believing.) 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人 If you wish to be the best man, you must be prepared to suffer the bitterest of the bitter. 每人一生中皆有得意之日 Every dog has his day. 色是假，美是空 Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty. 吉人自有天相 The good are protected by Heaven. / All's wel that ends well. 如愿以偿 The mayor finally got his way with the city council. 如人饮水冷暖自知 Only the wearer knows where the shoes pain. 吃得苦中苦，方为人上人 No gain without pain. 早起的鸟儿有虫吃 The early bird catches the worm. 7 8 奇装异服 a fantastic garb 忠言逆耳 Honest advice is unpleasant to the ear 明辨是非 to distinguish right from wrong 知足常乐 Happy is he who is content 知足者富 He who feels contented is rich 知人知面不知心 It's easy to know men's faces, but not their hearts. 知己知彼百战百胜 Know your enemy and know yourself. 空中楼阁 castles in the air 金科玉律 the gold rule 奇装异服 a fantastic garb 明辨事非 to distinguish right fromwrong 雨后春笋 like bamboo shoots after a spring shower 雨过天青 After a storm comes a calm. 秀才不出门能知天下事 A scholor does not step outside his gate, yet he knows the happenings under the sun. 事实胜于雄辩 Facts are most convincing. 来得容易去得快 Easy come, easy go. 金玉其外败絮其中 All that glitters is not gold. 兔子不吃窝边草 The fox preys farthest from his hole. 若要人不知除非己莫为 If you would not be known to do anything, never do it. 没有笑脸不出门 A man without a smiling face must not open a shop. 虎父无虎子 Like father, like son. 往者不可谏，来者犹可追 A mill cannot grind with the water that is past. 见异思迁 Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. 物竞天择 "Survival of the fittest," describes the runners finishing the marathon races. 物以类聚 Birds of a feather flock together. 夜以继日 The nurse was with the patient day and night. 英雄所见略同 Great minds think alike. 于事无补 Complaining is of little(no) avail. It is better for you to take action now. 9 姻缘天注定 Marriages are made in heaven. 逆来顺受 to make the best of a bad bargain 流芳百世 a niche in the temple of fame 为虎作伥 to act as guide to a tiger 孤注一掷 to put all one's egg in one basket 勇者不惧 A brave man will not shrink from dangers. 洗心革面 to turn over a new leaf 美中不足 a fly in the ointment 背道而驰 to run counter 走汤蹈火 to go through fire and water 风烛残年 to have one foot in the grave 风声鹤唳，草木皆兵 to apprehend danger in every sound 活到老学到老 It's never too late to learn./ Live and learn. 前事不忘后事之师 Remember the past and it will guide your future. 星星之火可以燎原 A single spark can start a prairie fire. 待人宽容如待己 Live and let live. 按部就班 Learn to walk before you run. 南辕北辙 The salesmen were working at cross purposes with their supervisor. 10 病从口入祸从口出 Illness comes in by mouth and comes out by it. 笑里藏刀 a smile to hide one's hate 留得青山在，不怕没柴烧 Where there's life there's hope 海底捞月 to fish in the air 海底捞针 to look for a needle in a bundle of hay 差之毫厘失之千里 A miss is as good as a mile 既往不咎 Let the dead bury their dead. 杀身成仁 to sacrifice one's life to preserve one's virtue complete 杀鸡焉用牛刀 Take not a musket to kill a butterfly 饥不择食 A good appetite is a good sauce. 害群之马 black sheep 家丑不可外扬 Don't wash your dirty linen in public. 恩威并济 alternate weakness with severity 旁观者清 The outside sees the best of the game. 时运不济 to have a bad time 殊途同归 All roads lead to Rome. 众志成城/团结就是力量 Union is strenth. 疾风知劲草 Adversity reveals genius. 旁观者清，当局者迷 Lookers-on see most of the game. 莫在太岁头上动土 Let sleeping dogs lie. 毕恭毕敬 He always treats his boss cap in hand. 11 得意忘形 to leap out of one's skin 捷足先登 The early bird catches the worm. 欲速则不达 Haste makes waste 欲速则不达 More haste, less speed. 欲加之罪，何患无辞 Give a dog a bad/an ill name and hang him. 混水摸鱼 to fish in troubled waters 贪小失大 penny-wise and poundfoolish 习惯成自然 once a use forever a custom 挂羊头卖狗肉 cry up wine and sell vinegar 贫无立锥之地 as poor as a church mouse 雪中送炭真君子/患难见真情 A friend in need is a friend indeed. 异想天开 to give loose to one's fancy 集思广义 Two heads are better than one. 得过且过 to live from hand to mouth 情人眼里出西施 Love is blind. 情有独钟 All the girls liked Kevin, but he had eyes only for Mary. 冤家宜解不宜结 Better remove enmity than contract it. 眼不见为净 Out of sight, out of mind. 脱口而出 A slip of the tongue can sometimes land you in trouble. 设身处地 Sometimes you have to learn to be in my shoes. 12 智者千虑，必有一失 Homer sometimes nods. 胜不骄败不馁 to be not elated by success nor disturbed by failure 富贵在天 Riches and honors come from heaven. 智者不惑 A wise man is free from perplexities. 无风不起浪 There is no smoke without fire. (Where there is smoke, there is fire.) 画蛇添足 to paint the lily 趁火打劫 to fish in troubled waters 量入为出 to cut one's coat according to one's cloth/ make both ends meet 阳奉阴违 ostensible obedience 跑了和尚跑不了庙 The monk may run away, but the temple can't run with him. 万物之灵 the lords of creation 万事开头难 Everything is difficult at the start 万无一失 not a single miss in a thousand times. 落井下石 to hit a person when he's down 隔墙有耳 Pitchers have ears; walls have ears. 开夜车/挑灯夜战 Burn the midnight oil. 开诚布公 He always opens his heart to his spouse when he has a problem. 盗亦有道 Dog does not eat dog. 善有善报 One kindness is the price of another. 13 损人利己 to enrich oneself at others expense 置之死地而后生 Put the troops in death ground and they will live. 道高一尺魔高一丈 While the priest climbs a foot, the devil climbs ten. 预防胜于治疗 Prevention is better than cure. 新官上任三把火 New brooms sweep clean. 塞翁失马焉知非福 Misfortune might be a blessing in disguise. 路遥知马力日久见人心 A distant journey tests the strength of a horse and a long task proves the character of a man. 沧海一栗 a drop in the bucket 盖棺论定 Judge none blessed before his death. 岁月不饶人 Time and tide wait for no man. 经验即良师 Experience is the teacher. 微不足道 The police crackdown on speeding is just a drop in the ocean in solving Taiwan's traffic problems. 勤能补拙 Diligence can make up for lack of intelligence. 14 寿终正寝 to die a natural death (to die in one's bed) 寡不击众 There is no contending against odds. 对牛弹琴 to cast pearls before swine 祸不单行 Misfortunes never come single. 饱食终日无所事事 to eat the bread of idleness 慷他人之慨 to be free with other's money 远亲不如近邻 Distant kinsmen mean less than close neighbors. / A near neighbor is better than a distant cousin. 种瓜得瓜种豆得豆 You must reap what you have sown. / As you sow, so shall you reap. 乐极生悲 After joy comes sadness. 说曹操到曹操就到 Talk of the devil and the devil comes. 团结就是力量 Union is strength. 需要为发明之母 Necessity is the mother of invention. 满招损，谦受益 Haughtiness invites ruin; humility receives benefits. 15 恶有恶报 He that does evil shall find evil. 恶事传千里 Bad news travels quickly. 熟能生巧 Practice makes perfect. 缓兵之计 a fabian policy 缘木求鱼 to get water from a flint 适者生存 the survival of the fittest 穷寇莫追 A cornered animal is a dangerous foe. 16 积少成多 Every little makes a mickle. 积少成多 Every little helps. 钱可通神 Money can move even the gods. 谋事在人成事在天 Man proposes and God disposes. 学问无快捷方式 There is no royal road/shortcut to learning. 机不可失 Opportunity seldo knocks twice. 17 优胜劣败 The weakest goes to the wall. 声东击西 to look one way and row another 脍炙人口 in everyone's mouth 螳臂挡车 to kick against the pricks 鞠躬尽瘁 to give the last measure of devotion 聪明反被聪明误 to suffer for one's wisdom 旧调重谈 to harp on the same string 礼尚往来 Courtesy on one side cannot last long. 礼多必诈 full of courtesy, full of craft 声嘶力竭 He was talking at the top of his voice. 18 覆水难收 What's done cannot be undone./There is no use crying over spilt milk. 转石不生苔 A rolling stone gathers no moss. 转败为胜 to convert defeat into victory 鞭长莫及 beyond one's grasp 关公门前耍大刀 There's no need to teach a fish to swim. 20 严以责己宽以待人 to be severe with oneself and lenient with others 21 铁石心肠 a heart of steel 22 听天由命 to be guided by destiny 骄者必败 Pride goes before a fall. |
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