AP Chinese Idioms

一马当先

take the lead

一举两得

attain two objectives by a single move

一波三折

full of twists and turns

一模一样

be exactly alike

一事无成

accomplish nothing

一无所有

have nothing at all

一见如故

feel like old friends at the first meeting

一刀两断

make a clean break

一言为定

reach a binding agreement verbally

一目十行

the ability to read quickly

一塌糊涂

in a complete mess

一箭双雕

kill two birds with one stone

一本正经

in a serious manner

一帆风顺

proceed smoothly without a hitch

一针见血

go right to the heart of the matter

一无是处

be good for nothing

一心一意

whole-heartedly

一知半解

have little knowledge, no comprehension.

百战百胜

ever-victorious

十全十美

be perfect in every way

七手八脚

many people bustling about

人山人海

a large crowd

一步登天

rapid advancement

一呼百应

rally hundreds of responses in one call

十万火急

most urgent

七嘴八舌

everybody talking at the same time

下不为例

not to be taken as a precedent

一波未平,一波又起

one trouble follows another

一言难尽

it is a long story

一路平安

bon voyage; to have a pleasant journey

七上八下

an unsettled state of mind

刀山火海

most dangerous places

因小失大

lose a great deal through trying to gain a little

交头接耳

whisper to each other

力不从心

unable to do as much as one would like to

九死一生

have a narrow escape from death

三心二意

change one's mind constantly

万水千山

a long and arduous journey

万事大吉

all is well with everything

来来往往

come and go

力所能及

that which is in one's power to do

欢天喜地

wild with joy

三言两语

in a few words

万无一失

absolutely safe or sure

有头无尾

leave a job incomplete or unfinished

来之不易

hard-earned; hard-won

九牛一毛

A drop in the bucket

三思而行

think thrice before you act

三三两两

by twos and threes

万众一心

all the people of one mind

与众不同

be out of the common

更上一层楼

attain a yet higher goal

大功告成

be crowned with success

大惊失色

turn pale with fright

大同小异

be alike except for slight differences

大智若愚

a man of great wisdom often appears slow-witted

大材小用

give an able person a small job

马到成功

win success immediately upon arrival

大公无私

be selfless; be impartial

大快人心

to the great satisfaction of the people

大喜过望

be pleased beyond expectation

大惊小怪

make a fuss about trifles

习以为常

become accustomed to something

多才多艺

be gifted in many ways

大海捞针

look for a needle in a haystack

大失所望

be greatly disappointed

大有作为

be able to develop one's skill to the full

大手大脚

extravagant or wasteful

口是心非

say one thing and mean another

多此一举

make an unnecessary move

小题大做

make a great fuss over a trifle

千方百计

use every conceivable means

千山万水

Same as 万水千山

千言万语

with so much to say

火树银花

a dazzling display of fireworks and lanterns

福如东海

happiness as boundless as the eastern seas

丢三落四

be always forgetting things

千军万马

a mighty force

千辛万苦

undergo all conceivable hardships

千难万险

innumerable hazards and hardships

丰衣足食

be well-fed and well-clothed

有志者,事竟成

there is a will, there is a way.

千变万化

ever-changing

千秋万代

generation after generation or forever

千真万确

absolutely true

为所欲为

do or act as one wishes or pleases

寿比南山

birthday greeting-live as long as the Southern Mountain

千里之行,始于足下

the highest eminence is to be gained step by step

一无所知

know nothing about

一言既出，驷马难追

a word spoken is past

心不在焉(yān)

absent-minded

心平气和

calm and reasonable

心花怒(nu)放

burst with joy

心神不定

be anxious and preoccupied

天下无敌

invincible; ever; victorious; all-conquering

天各一方

live far apart from each other

心急如火

burning with anxiety; nervous with worry

心直口快

frank and outspoken

心血来潮(cháo)

hit upon a sudden idea

心满意足

fully satisfied and content