1 lit. If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked (idiom); fig. subordinates imitate their superiors' vices
四分五裂
sì fēn wǔ liè
1 all split up and in pieces (idiom); disunity (in an organization)
2 complete lack of unity
3 to disintegrate
4 falling apart
5 to be at sixes and sevens
天崩地裂
tiān bēng dì liè
1 heaven falls and earth rends (idiom); rocked by a major disaster
2 fig. violent revolution
3 major social upheaval
强扭的瓜不甜
qiǎng niǔ de guā bù tián
1 lit. if you have to use force to break a melon off the vine, it won't taste sweet (because it's only when the melon is ripe that it can be removed with just a slight twist) (idiom)
2 fig. if sth is not meant to be, it's no use trying to force it to happen
心胆俱裂
xīn dǎn jù liè
1 to be scared out of one's wits (idiom)
捡了芝麻丢了西瓜
jiǎn le zhī ma diū le xī guā
1 to let go of the big prize while grabbing at trifles (idiom)
东倒西歪
dōng dǎo xī wāi
1 to lean unsteadily from side to side (idiom)
2 to sway
3 (of buildings etc) to lean at a crazy angle
歪风邪气
wāi fēng xié qì
1 noxious winds, evil influences (idiom); malignant social trends
滚瓜烂熟
gǔn guā làn shú
1 lit. ripe as a melon that rolls from its vine (idiom); fig. to know fluently
2 to know sth inside out
3 to know sth by heart
王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸
wáng pó mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
1 every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
2 all one's geese are swans
瓜熟蒂落
guā shú dì luò
1 when the melon is ripe, it falls (idiom); problems sort themselves out in the fullness of time
瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠
guā tián bù nà lu:3 , lǐ xià bù zhěng guān
1 lit. don't tie your shoelaces in a melon patch, and don't adjust your hat under a plum tree (idiom)
2 fig. don't do anything that might arouse suspicion
3 innocent acts may be misconstrued
碎心裂胆
suì xīn liè dǎn
1 in mortal fear (idiom)
种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆
zhòng guā dé guā , zhòng dòu dé dòu
1 lit. Sow melon and you get melon, sow beans and you get beans (idiom); fig. As you sow, so shall you reap.
2 One must live with the consequences of one's actions.
3 You've made your bed, now must lie on it.
老王卖瓜，自卖自夸
Lǎo Wáng mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
1 every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
2 all one's geese are swans
脚正不怕鞋歪
jiǎo zhèng bù pà xié wāi
1 lit. a straight foot has no fear of a crooked shoe