1 lit. use others' strengths to make up for one's weak points (idiom from Mencius)
2 to use this in place of that
3 what you lose on the swings, you win on the roundabouts
吃人家的嘴软,拿人家的手短
chī rén jiā de zuǐ ruǎn , ná rén jiā de shǒu duǎn
1 lit. the mouth that has been fed by others is soft, the hand that has received doesn't reach (idiom)
2 fig. one is partial to those from whom presents have been accepted
吴下阿蒙
Wú xià ā Méng
1 General Lü Meng 呂蒙|吕蒙 of the southern state of Wu (idiom); model of self-improvement by diligent study (from unlettered soldier to top strategist of Wu)
吴头楚尾
Wú tóu Chǔ wěi
1 lit. head in Wu and tail in Chu (idiom); fig. close together
2 head-to-tail
3 one thing starts where the other leaves off
宁做鸡头,不做凤尾
nìng zuò jī tóu , bù zuò fèng wěi
1 lit. would rather be a chicken's head than a phoenix's tail (idiom)
2 fig. to prefer to be a big fish in a small pond rather than a small fish in a big pond
尾大不掉
wěi dà bù diào
1 large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy
2 fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates
张家长,李家短
Zhāng jiā cháng , Lǐ jiā duǎn
1 lit. the Zhangs are better off than the Lis (idiom); to gossip about the neighbors
彻头彻尾
chè tóu chè wěi
1 lit. from head to tail (idiom); thoroughgoing
2 through and through
3 out and out
4 from top to bottom
截长补短
jié cháng bǔ duǎn
1 take from the long to supplement the short (idiom)
2 to offset each other's deficiencies
3 to complement each other
扬长避短
yáng cháng bì duǎn
1 to foster strengths and avoid weaknesses (idiom)
2 to play to one's strengths
摇头摆尾
yáo tóu bǎi wěi
1 to nod one's head and wag one's tail (idiom)
2 to be well pleased with oneself
3 to have a lighthearted air
昼短夜长
zhòu duǎn yè cháng
1 the winter days are short and the nights long (idiom)
有头有尾
yǒu tóu yǒu wěi
1 where there's a start, there's a finish (idiom); to finish once one starts sth
2 to carry things through
3 I started, so I'll finish.
有头无尾
yǒu tóu wú wěi
1 to start but not finish (idiom); to fail to carry things through
2 lack of sticking power
3 short attention span
东家长西家短
dōng jiā cháng xī jiā duǎn
1 to gossip (idiom)
残年短景
cán nián duǎn jǐng
1 at the end of the year (idiom)
争长论短
zhēng cháng lùn duǎn
1 lit. to argue who is right and wrong (idiom); to quibble
2 a storm in a teacup
狐狸尾巴
hú li wěi ba
1 lit. fox's tail (idiom); visible sign of evil intentions
2 to reveal one's evil nature
3 evidence that reveals the villain
狗尾续貂
gǒu wěi xù diāo
1 lit. to use a dog's tail as a substitute for sable fur (idiom)
2 fig. a worthless sequel to a masterpiece
畏首畏尾
wèi shǒu wèi wěi
1 afraid of the head, terrified of the tail (idiom); ever fearful and nervous
2 afraid of the slightest thing
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