This idiom comes from Shi Shuo Ren Xin Yu Sheng. One snowy night, visiting friend Diane Dow came back at the door and said, "I'll come back if I'm happy on a whim." Later, people used it to mean to follow one's inclinations. Later, it turned into "on a whim, returning at a loss", coming with hope, but returning disappointed.
The idiom "on a whim" was lost on a whim. Come if you are interested. Metaphor is to come happily.
This idiom comes from Biography of Wang Huizhi in the Book of Jin, and the emblem reads: "Ben came here on a whim and came back exhausted. Why does he want to see Tao An? "
Wang Huizhi, the third son of Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was arrogant by nature, unwilling to be bound by others and unrestrained in his behavior. Although he was an official in the DPRK, he often wandered around and did not deal with the daily affairs of the official's son.
Later, he simply resigned and lived in seclusion in Yin Shan (now Shaoxing). He travels, drinks and recites poems every day, but he is also very free.
One winter, it snowed for several days. One night, it stopped snowing. A bright moon appeared in the sky, and the bright moonlight shone on the snow, as if sparkling flowers were blooming everywhere, white and lovely. Wang Huizhi pushed open the window and saw snow all around. It's really beautiful. He immediately called his family out of the tables and chairs, brought them to the dining table, and sat alone in the yard and drank slowly. He drank, watched the scenery, recited poems and danced with joy.
Suddenly, he felt that this scene would be more touching if it could be accompanied by a long piano sound. From this, he remembered his friend Dai Kui, who can play the piano and draw pictures.
"Hey, why don't I see him right away?"
So Wang Huizhi immediately ordered his servants to prepare boats and paddles, and rushed there overnight. I don't think I am in Yin Shan and Dai Kui is in Shaanxi. There is a considerable distance between the two places.
The moonlight shines on the river, and the water waves are sparkling. The boat sailed briskly, and the scenery along the way was covered with silver. Wang Huizhi looked at such a beautiful night, as if he had entered a fairyland. "quick! Come on! Quick punting! "
Wang Huizhi urged his servant to see Dai Kui early and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The ship sailed all night, and at dawn, it finally reached Tongxi. But Wang Huizhi suddenly asked the servant to punt back. The servant was puzzled and asked him in surprise why he didn't go ashore to see Dai Kui. He smiled faintly and said, "I came on a whim. Now that my interest is gone, of course I have to go back. Why do I have to see Dai Kui? "