开夜车 開夜車
kāi yèchēㄎㄞ ㄧㄝˋ ㄔㄜ
to burn the midnight oil — literally “drive the night car”
Late-night work or study sessions.
走后门 走後門
zǒu hòuménㄗㄡˇ ㄏㄡˋ ㄇㄣˊ
to get in by pulling strings — literally “go through the back door”
Connections beat the queue.
碰钉子 碰釘子
pèng dīngziㄆㄥˋ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄗ˙
to meet with a rebuff — literally “bump into a nail”
You asked; they said no — hard.
炒鱿鱼 炒魷魚
chǎo yóuyúㄔㄠˇ ㄧㄡˊ ㄩˊ
to be fired; to fire someone — literally “stir-fried squid”
Curling squid = rolled-up bedding: pack up.
拍马屁 拍馬屁
pāi mǎpìㄆㄞ ㄇㄚˇ ㄆㄧˋ
to flatter; to suck up — literally “pat the horse’s rump”
Old horse-traders praised stock this way.
吹牛皮
chuī niúpíㄔㄨㄟ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ
to brag; to talk big — literally “blow up the cowhide”
Inflated claims, no raft.
磨洋工
mó yánggōngㄇㄛˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄍㄨㄥ
to loaf on the job — literally “dawdle through foreign work”
Slow on purpose, paid by the hour.
泼冷水 潑冷水
pō lěngshuǐㄆㄛ ㄌㄥˇ ㄕㄨㄟˇ
to dampen enthusiasm — literally “splash cold water”
On your idea, your parade, your plans.
耍花招
shuǎ huāzhāoㄕㄨㄚˇ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄓㄠ
to play tricks; be slippery — literally “flash fancy moves”
Style that dodges the honest way.
卖关子 賣關子
mài guānziㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄗ˙
to keep people in suspense — literally “sell the crucial bit”
Storytellers withheld the climax for tips.
铁饭碗 鐵飯碗
tiě fànwǎnㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄈㄢˋ ㄨㄢˇ
a secure lifelong job — literally “an iron rice bowl”
The state-job ideal; contrast 泥饭碗.
露马脚 露馬腳
lòu mǎjiǎoㄌㄡˋ ㄇㄚˇ ㄐㄧㄠˇ
to give oneself away — literally “let the horse’s hoof show”
The costume was too short.
敲竹杠 敲竹槓
qiāo zhúgàngㄑㄧㄠ ㄓㄨˊ ㄍㄤˋ
to fleece; to extort — literally “knock the bamboo pole”
Overcharge whoever can’t say no.
耳边风 耳邊風
ěrbiānfēngㄦˇ ㄅㄧㄢ ㄈㄥ
advice that goes ignored — literally “wind past the ear”
In one ear, out the other.