The four-character idioms of the twelve zodiac animals are short-sighted, eye-catching, waiting for the rabbit, flying dragons and phoenixes, superfluous, thousands of troops, mending the situation, sharp-mouthed monkey cheeks, standing out from the chickens, dogs jumping over the wall, pigs and dogs. The specific meanings and sources of the idioms are as follows:
1. The eyes of mice are short-sighted:
Explanation: The eyes of mice can only see one inch away. It is a metaphor for people's short-sightedness.
Source: "Linchuan Dream" by Jiang Shiquan of the Qing Dynasty: "Looking for chapters and excerpts; classifying them into categories; compiling various new books; stereotyping and betraying. Those short-sighted Shiwen friends were frightened; thank you Go to the camp gate; blindly praise and praise blindly."
2. A drop in the bucket:
Definition: a hair on many cows. Describe an insignificant amount in a huge amount.
Source: Han Dynasty Sima Qian's "Report to Ren Shaoqing": "I ordered my servant to lie down and be punished, just like a drop of nine oxen; how is it different from an ant?"
3.? Watching with eager eyes. :
Definition: Describes staring greedily and fiercely.
Source: "Yi of the Book of Changes": "The tiger looks at it with eager eyes; it wants to chase it away."
4. Sit back and wait:
Interpretation: It is a metaphor for sticking to a narrow experience and not knowing how to adapt. It also satirizes the wishful thinking of getting something for nothing.
Source: "Lunheng" by Wang Chong of the Han Dynasty: "Still waiting for the rabbit's trail; hiding and breaking the road."
5. Flying dragons and dancing phoenixes:
Interpretation : The original description is that the mountains are winding and majestic. Nowadays, multi-finger calligraphy has strong, flexible and unrestrained strokes.
Source: Song Dynasty Su Shi's "Biao Zhongguan Stele": "The mountain of Tianmu; the sweet water comes out; the dragon flies and the phoenix dances; it gathers in Lin'an."
6. Superfluous:
Explanation: After drawing the snake, add its feet. The metaphor is unnecessary and self-defeating.
Source: "Warring States Policy·Qi Ce" written by Liu Xiang of the Han Dynasty: "Take the snake's jaw and say: 'The snake has no legs; Zi'an can give it legs.' Then he drinks his wine. Those who have snake legs will end up with it." No wine."
7. Thousands of troops:
Explanation: Describes a large number of soldiers and horses or a huge momentum.
Source: "Liang Shu·Chen Qing's Biography": "First, there is a Luoyang nursery rhyme: 'Famous teachers and generals should not imprison themselves; thousands of soldiers and horses should avoid white robes.'"
8. Repair the situation after the sheep has been lost. :
Interpretation: It is a metaphor for trying to find a way to remedy a loss to avoid suffering another loss in the future.
Source: "Warring States Policy·Chu Policy Four": "It is not too late to look after the dog when you see the rabbit; it is not too late to repair the dead sheep."
9. Sharp-mouthed monkey cheeks:
Definition: Describes a person’s thin cheeks and ugly appearance.
Source: Chapter 3 of "The Scholars" written by Wu Jingzi of the Qing Dynasty: "As sharp as you are, you should urinate and take a picture of yourself!"
10. Stand out from the crowd:
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Explanation: It means that a person's appearance or talent is extremely outstanding among a group of people.
Source: "Shishuo Xinyu·Rong Zhi" by Liu Yiqing of the Southern Dynasties and Song Dynasty: "Someone said to Wang Rong: 'Ji Yanzu (Ji Shao) is as outstanding as a wild crane in a flock of chickens.'"
p>11. A dog jumps over the wall in a hurry:
Interpretation: It is a metaphor for people who can act desperately when they are desperate.
Source: "Dunhuang Bian Anthology·Yanzi Fu": "People are in a hurry to burn incense; dogs are in a hurry to break the wall."
12. Pigs and dogs are not as good as:
Interpretation : It means not even as good as a pig or a dog. Describes low personality and extremely bad conduct.
Source: Lao She's "Four Generations Under One Roof": "He must hold back his anger and say good things to people who are worse than pigs and dogs."