Idioms 2

打草惊蛇

To alert someone of danger (literally: hit the grass and scare the snake; pinyin: dǎ cǎo jīng shé)

饮水思源

Remember where you came from (literally: when drinking water, think of its source; pinyin: yǐn shuǐ sī yuán)

借花献佛

To use someone else’s power for your benefit (literally: borrow flowers to offer to Buddha; pinyin: jiè huā xiàn fó)

将计就计

To turn the tables (literally: use their scheme to counter their scheme; pinyin: jiāng jì jiù jì)

闷葫芦

A mysterious person (literally: a dull gourd; pinyin: mèn hú lu)

白眼狼

An ungrateful person (literally: a white-eyed wolf; pinyin: bái yǎn láng)

擦边球

To do something on the edge of rules (literally: play the edge ball; pinyin: cā biān qiú)

醋坛子

A jealous person (literally: vinegar jar; pinyin: cù tán zi)

求爷爷告奶奶

To ask for help in a helpless situation (literally: beg grandpa and tell grandma; pinyin: qiú yé yé gào nǎi nai)

缺胳膊少腿

To be missing something important (literally: missing an arm or leg; pinyin: quē gē bo shǎo tuǐ)

小打小闹

Small scale troubles (literally: small fights and noise; pinyin: xiǎo dǎ xiǎo nào)

耳朵软

Easy to persuade (literally: soft ears; pinyin: ěr duo ruǎn)

狗咬狗

To fight amongst themselves (literally: dogs biting dogs; pinyin: gǒu yǎo gǒu)

风头紧

Something is under scrutiny (literally: tense windhead; pinyin: fēng tóu jǐn)

一家人不说两家话

Keep family matters private (literally: family doesn’t speak as two families; pinyin: yī jiā rén bù shuō liǎng jiā huà)

乱七八糟

Messy and chaotic (literally: in a total mess; pinyin: luàn qī bā zāo)

慢条斯理

Slowly and methodically (literally: slow and orderly; pinyin: màn tiáo sī lǐ)

图穷匕见

The truth comes out at the end (literally: the dagger shows when the map is finished; pinyin: tú qióng bǐ jiàn)

一曝十寒

Inconsistent effort (literally: one exposure, ten cold spells; pinyin: yī pù shí hán)

博闻强识

Widely knowledgeable (literally: broad knowledge and strong memory; pinyin: bó wén qiáng zhì)

如火如荼

Intense and passionate (literally: like fire and like the thorns of a tea plant; pinyin: rú huǒ rú tú)

病入膏肓

At the end of recovery (literally: sickness has entered the vital part; pinyin: bìng rù gāo huāng)

炙手可热

Very popular or in demand (literally: hands can get hot from touching; pinyin: zhì shǒu kě rè)

惴惴不安

Uneasy and nervous (literally: trembling with unease; pinyin: zhuì zhuì bù ān)

相形见绌

To be found lacking in comparison (literally: in comparison, it appears insufficient; pinyin: xiāng xíng jiàn chù)