亡羊补牢
wáng yáng bǔ láo
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1 lit. to mend the pen after sheep are lost (idiom)
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2 fig. to act belatedly
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3 better late than never
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4 to lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
挂羊头卖狗肉
guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu
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1 lit. to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiom)
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2 fig. to cheat
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3 dishonest advertising
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4 wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue
杀牛宰羊
shā niú zǎi yáng
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1 slaughter the cattle and butcher the sheep
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2 to prepare a big feast (idiom)
杀猪宰羊
shā zhū zǎi yáng
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1 to kill the pigs and slaughter the sheep (idiom)
毛出在羊身上
máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng
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1 lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.
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2 Nothing comes for free.
牵羊担酒
qiān yáng dān jiǔ
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1 pulling a lamb and bringing wine on a carrying pole (idiom); fig. to offer elaborate congratulations
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2 to kill the fatted calf
羊入虎口
yáng rù hǔ kǒu
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1 lit. a lamb in a tiger's den (idiom)
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2 fig. to tread dangerous ground
羊毛出在羊身上
yáng máo chū zài yáng shēn shàng
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1 lit. wool comes from the sheep's back (idiom); One gets the benefit, but the price has been paid.
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2 Nothing comes for free.
羊肠小道
yáng cháng xiǎo dào
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1 road as twisty as sheep's intestine (idiom); narrow and winding road
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2 fig. complicated and tricky job
羊触藩篱
yáng chù fān lí
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1 lit. billy goat's horns caught in the fence (idiom from Book of Changes 易經|易经); impossible to advance or to retreat
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2 without any way out of a dilemma
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3 trapped
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4 in an impossible situation
羊质虎皮
yáng zhì hǔ pí
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1 lit. the heart of a sheep in the skin of a tiger (idiom)
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2 fig. impressive in appearance but lacking in substance
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3 braggart
羝羊触藩
dī yáng chù fān
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1 lit. billy goat's horns caught in the fence (idiom from Book of Changes 易經|易经); impossible to advance or to retreat
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2 without any way out of a dilemma
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3 trapped
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4 in an impossible situation
顺手牵羊
shùn shǒu qiān yáng
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1 lit. to lead away a goat in passing (idiom); to steal sth under cover of an emergency
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2 to take advantage of a crisis for personal gain
饱暖思淫欲,饥寒起盗心
bǎo nuǎn sī yín yù , jī hán qǐ dào xīn
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1 lechery springs from warmth and nourishment, kleptomania springs from hunger and cold (idiom)