1 lit. like a three-meter high monk, you can't rub his head (idiom)
2 fig. at a total loss
三个和尚没水喝
sān gè hé shang méi shuǐ hē
1 lit. three monks have no water to drink (idiom)
2 fig. everybody's business is nobody's business
3 (If there is one monk, he will fetch water for himself. If there are two, they will fetch water together. But if there are three or more, none will take it upon himself to fetch water.)
不遗余力
bù yí yú lì
1 to spare no pains or effort (idiom); to do one's utmost
九牛二虎之力
jiǔ niú èr hǔ zhī lì
1 tremendous strength (idiom)
做一天和尚撞一天钟
zuò yī tiān hé shang zhuàng yī tiān zhōng
1 lit. as a monk for today, toll today's bell (idiom)
2 fig. to do one's job mechanically
3 to hold a position passively
力不胜任
lì bù shèng rèn
1 not to be up to the task (idiom)
2 incompetent
力不从心
lì bù cóng xīn
1 less capable than desirable (idiom); not as strong as one would wish
2 the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
力所能及
lì suǒ néng jí
1 as far as one's capabilities extend (idiom); to the best of one's ability
2 within one's powers
力挽狂澜
lì wǎn kuáng lán
1 to pull strongly against a crazy tide (idiom); fig. to try hard to save a desperate crisis
力排众议
lì pái zhòng yì
1 to stand one's ground against the opinion of the masses (idiom)
力争上游
lì zhēng shàng yóu
1 to strive for mastery (idiom); aiming for the best result
2 to have high ambitions
力尽神危
lì jìn shén wēi
1 totally exhausted as result of overexertion (idiom)
助一臂之力
zhù yī bì zhī lì
1 to lend a helping hand (idiom)
努力以赴
nǔ lì yǐ fù
1 to use one's best efforts to do sth (idiom)
勉力而为
miǎn lì ér wéi
1 to try one's best to do sth (idiom)
势均力敌
shì jūn lì dí
1 evenly matched (idiom)
吃力不讨好
chī lì bù tǎo hǎo
1 arduous and thankless task (idiom); strenuous and unrewarding
同心协力
tóng xīn xié lì
1 to work with a common purpose (idiom); to make concerted efforts
2 to pull together
3 to work as one
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