To describe a person who is not a fuel-efficient lamp has two meanings:
First, in a few cases it has a complimentary meaning. It refers to someone who is smart, capable, well-founded, well-established, has many ideas, and is highly intelligent.
Example: If you have any difficulties in the future, you can consult him. Although he is hidden in the market, he is not a fuel-efficient lamp.
2. However, in most cases, this term has a derogatory meaning, implying that someone is scheming, cunning, scheming, and difficult to deal with. It also refers to someone who is unwilling to be lonely, never suffers a loss, and is dedicated to benefiting himself at the expense of others, etc. , this word is generally used for villains or villains.
Example: You have to be careful about that kid, he is not a fuel-efficient lamp.
Extended information
"Not a fuel-saving lamp" comes from the fuel-saving lamp invented by Qiong Kiln in the Tang Dynasty. It was written in "Notes of Laoxue'an" by Lu You, a famous poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. When Lu You lived in Sichuan, he served as the supervisor of the Chongtao Temple in Tiantai Mountain, Qiongzhou. Among the poems he recited, there were as many as 22 poems related to Qionglai, and he had heard about Qiong kiln's oil-saving lamps. The brilliance of the "fuel-saving lamp" spread far and wide through Lu Yousheng's fame and spread to all parts of the country.
It is precisely because of Lu You's praise and publicity that the production technology of "oil-saving lamps" was spread throughout the country. When "oil-saving lamps" were generally recognized by people across the country, people began to have "oil-saving lamps". " and the concept of "oil-inefficient lamp", but now, it has evolved into a common saying in people's mouth. It has been widely used in Chinese literary works, spoken language, film and television works, and audio-visual works. It is a common saying in the east, west, north, and south of the country, with high frequency and wide use.