1 lit. come without a shadow, leave without a footprint (idiom); to come and go without a trace
化为泡影
huà wéi pào yǐng
1 to come to nothing (idiom)
含沙射影
hán shā shè yǐng
1 to attack someone by innuendo (idiom)
2 to make oblique charges
3 to make insinuations
4 to insinuate
如影随形
rú yǐng suí xíng
1 as the shadow follows the body (idiom)
2 closely associated with each other
3 to follow relentlessly
孤身只影
gū shēn zhī yǐng
1 lit. a lonely body with only a shadow for company
2 to be all alone (idiom)
形影相吊
xíng yǐng xiāng diào
1 with only body and shadow to comfort each other (idiom)
2 extremely sad and lonely
形影相随
xíng yǐng xiāng suí
1 lit. body and shadow follow each other (idiom)
2 fig. inseparable
捉襟见肘
zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu
1 lit. pulling on the lapels exposes the elbows (idiom)
2 strapped for cash
3 unable to make ends meet
捕风捉影
bǔ fēng zhuō yǐng
1 lit. chasing the wind and clutching at shadows (idiom); fig. groundless accusations
2 to act on hearsay evidence
撒网捕风
sā wǎng bǔ fēng
1 lit. the wind cannot be caught in a net
2 to waste one's effort (idiom)
杯弓蛇影
bēi gōng shé yǐng
1 lit. to see a bow reflected in a cup as a snake (idiom); fig. unnecessary suspicions
2 overly fearful
浮光掠影
fú guāng lu:è yǐng
1 flickering light and passing shadows (idiom)
2 blurred scenery
3 cursory
4 superficial
无影无踪
wú yǐng wú zōng
1 to disappear without trace (idiom)
瓮中捉鳖
wèng zhōng zhuō biē
1 to catch a turtle in a jar (idiom); to set oneself an easy target
2 a turkey shoot
立杆见影
lì gān jiàn yǐng
1 lit. put up a pole and see the shadow (idiom); to expect instant results
立竿见影
lì gān jiàn yǐng
1 lit. set up a pole and see the shadow (idiom); fig. instant effect
2 quick results
终成泡影
zhōng chéng pào yǐng
1 to come to nothing (idiom)
螳螂捕蝉
táng láng bǔ chán
1 the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger
螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后
táng láng bǔ chán , huáng què zài hòu
1 the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子); to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger