1.After meat, mustard; after death, doctor . |
雨后送伞 |
|
Explanation: this describes a situation where assistance or comfort is given when it is too late. |
|
Example: just as I had cancelled my application to go abroad, I had a promise of money for my fare. It was a case of fter death, the doctor. |
|
2. After praising the wine they sell us vinegar. |
挂羊头卖狗肉 |
|
Explanation: to offer to give or sell something that is inferior to what you claim it to be. |
|
Example: that fellow completely misled us about what he was capable of doing. After praising the wine, he sold us vinegar. |
|
3. All is over but the shouting. |
大势已去 |
|
Explanation: finally decided or won; brought to the end; not able to be changed. |
|
Example: after Bill’s touch down, the game is all over but shouting. |
|
4. All lay load on the willing horse. |
人善被人欺,马善被人骑 |
|
Explanation: a willing horse is someone who is always doing things for others. Very often the implication is that others impose on him. |
|
Examples: the trouble is you're too good-natured and people take advantage of it. all lay load on the willing horse. You will have to learn to refuse people who ask too much. |
|
5.anger and haste hinder good counsel. |
小不忍则乱大谋 |
|
Explanation: one can not act wisely when one is angry or in a hurry. |
|
Example: you should calm down before you decide the next move. Anger and haste hinder good counsel. |
|
6. As poor as a church mouse |
一贫如洗 |
|
Explanation: to be exceedingly poor, having barely to live upon. |
|
Example: he has a large family, and is poor as a church mouse. |
|
Note: a church is one of the few buildings that contain no food. |
|
7. A word spoken is past recalling. |
一言既出,驷马难追 |
|
Explanation: the harm done by a careless word can not easily undo. |
|
Example: for the rest of his life he regretted what he had said, but a word spoken is past recalling and he knew he could never repair the damage of that moment of harshness. |
8.World is but a little place, after all. |
天涯原咫尺,到处可逢君 |
|
Explanation: it is used when a person meets someone he knows or is in someway connected with him in a place where he would never have expected to do so. |
|
Example: Who would have thought I would bump into an old schoolmate on a trek up Mount Tai. The world is but a little place after all. |
|
9. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
入乡随俗 |
|
Explanation: conform to the manners and customs of those amongst whom you live. |
|
Example: I know you have egg and bacon for breakfast at home, but now you are on the Continent you will do as the Romans do and take coffee and rolls. |
|
10. What you lose on the swings you get back on the roundabouts. |
失之东隅,收之桑榆 |
|
Explanation: a rough way of starting a law of average; if you have bad luck on one day you have good on another; if one venture results in loss try a fresh one---it may succeed. |
|
Example: he may always possess merits which make up for everything; if he loses on the swings, he may win on the roundabouts. |
|
11.What are the odds so long as you are happy. |
知足者常乐 |
|
Explanation: what does anything else matter if a person is happy. |
|
Example: you complain so much, but you have a good family, parents, health, and money. What’s the odd so long as you’re happy. |
|
12.Entertain an angel unawares. |
有眼不识泰山 |
|
Explanation: to receive a great personage as a guest without knowing his merits. |
|
Example: in the course of evening someone informed her that she was entertaining an angel unawares, in the shape of a composer of the greatest promise |
|
13.every dog has his day . |
是人皆有出头日 |
|
Explanation: fortune comes to each in turn |
|
Example: they say that every dog has his day; but mine seems a very long time coming. |
|
14.every potter praises his own pot. |
王婆买瓜,自卖自夸 |
|
Explanation: people are loath to refer to defects in their possessions or their family members |
|
Example: he said that his teacher considered his work brilliant, but I would rather hear it from his teacher’s own mouth. Every potter praises his own pot |