Daily Idioms
一边一份
One side, one portion
1. one per person
2. one of each
3. Even Steven
4. Keep to one side
Even Steven
老丈人
Old male person
1. Wife's father
2. Old Fart
3. My hubby
4. Old bachelor
Wife's father
加把劲儿
Add a bit of strength
1. Make it more spicy
2. Kick it up a notch
3. It needs some tendon jelly
4. Live it up!
Kick it up a notch
话里有话 .
Talk inside has Talk
A. To speak with a hidden agenda.
B. To speak without thinking.
C. To talk to oneself.
D. To talk in circles.
A. To speak with a hidden agenda.
走后门
[walk back door]
1. Use personal connections
2. Avoid confrontation
3. Be sneaky
4. Go around the long way
Use personal connections
前后脚到
Front Back Foot Arrive
1. Arrived in one piece
2. Lined up in a row
3. Over the top and down
4. Get in Back-to-back
Get in Back to back
小人
Little people
1. Child
2. Deceitful and petty
3. Someone who has lost weight
4. Short people
Deceitful and petty
抹不开
Rub not out
1. Permanent stain
2. Feel too embarrassed to refuse
3. Hard to kill
4. Unable to open
Feel too embarrassed to refuse
话糙理不糙
Talk coarse reason not coarse
A. To speak frankly but kindly.
B. To use harsh words but give sound reasoning.
C. To get straight to the point.
D. To speak in a low and rough voice.
B. To use harsh words but give sound reasoning.
门不当户不对
Door not facing registry not right
1. Wrong address
2. Not matching the neighborhood
3. Two from two different provinces
4. Mispaired from social strata
Mispaired from social strata
掩耳盗铃
cover ears steal bell
1. Make a diversion
2. Preventing a theft
3. A fool
4. The perfect crime
A fool
人言可畏
People talk can fear
A. One's words can move mountains.
B. Rumors can harm someone's reputation
C. People are afraid to speak up.
D. To speak without thinking.
B. Rumors can harm someone's reputation
下回不许
Next return not permit
1. All sales are final
2. Let there be no repeat
3. Not an exit
4. Re-entry not permitted
Let there be no repeat
巧言令色
Skillful words command color
A. To speak in a friendly tone.
B. To say what people want to hear.
C. To use sweet words that hide a sinister motive.
D. To give a vague and non-committal answer.
C. To use sweet words that hide a sinister motive.
门可罗雀
[door can net sparrows]
1. Good hunting grounds
2. Place is no longer popular
3. A hangout for cats
4. Place where pretty girls go
Place is no longer popular
八竿子打不着
[8 sticks hit not]
1. Not comparable
2. Unbeatable even if ganged up on
3. Can't beat it with a stick
4. Four pairs of chopsticks are perfect
Not comparable
人微言轻
People little words light
A. People of low status have little say.
B. Vocabulary describes a person.
C. A weak person talks too much.
D. Keep the conversation light.
A. People of low status have little say.
当口儿
Right mouth
A. To one's face.
B. At this very moment.
C. To smile.
D. To open the mouth.
B. At this very moment.
话不投机半句多
words don't click, half a sentence much
A. To interrupt someone mid-sentence.
B. When two people don't click, even talking is a waste of time.
C. To argue over a minor point.
D. To speak in fragments.
B. When two people don't click, even talking is a waste of time.
门道
Door arrive
1. Door-to-door
2. Entryway
3. Door stop
4. Trick of the trade
Trick of the trade
信口开河
[Faith mouth open river]
1. Heartfelt message
2. Words flowing like a river
3. Speak irresponsibly
4. Speak in a convincing manner
Speak irresponsibly
人心叵测
Person heart impossible measure
A. A person is two-faced.
B. A cruel and heartless person.
C. Motives are hard to fathom.
D. Impossible to even guess.
C. Motives are hard to fathom.
烧高香
burn high incense
1. Quite fragrant
2. Burn the night oil
3. Luck out
4. Spend money freely
Luck out
车轱辘话不来回说
Cart wheel speak don't come back talk
A. To talk in circles.
B. To speak without thinking.
C. To interrupt someone.
D. To speak with great authority.
A. To talk in circles.
Side door left path
1. Cheating
2. Sneaky entryway
3. Trapdoor
4. Unorthodox methods
4. Unorthodox methods