“三七二十一” is a multiplication rhyme and in this expression, it is used to indicate various conditions and results; therefore, “不管三七二十一” means to do something regardless of anything and regardless of the consequences. This expression is often followed by the specific thing that's being done.

comments - 987 views - Fri, feb 05 15:54 2010

“萝卜白菜，各有所爱” literally means when it comes to turnips and cabbages, some people prefer turnips while others like cabbages. This expression is used to illustrate that different people have different preferences towards different things or people, including what you perceive as strange or not good; and when someone’s preferences are being questioned, this expression is commonly used to make a conclusive or argumentative statement.

comments - 1348 views - Wed, jan 27 17:00 2010

The act of opening one eye and closing the other is a metaphor for pretending not to see. This metaphor often indicates the act of conniving certain norms and principals. Another way to express this metaphor is “睁只眼闭只眼” and the preposition “对” is often used with the metaphor.

comments - 816 views - Mon, jan 25 17:32 2010

“老几” can be used to ask the seniority of someone among brothers and sisters. However, colloquially, “老几” is often used for another purpose: to indicate someone's non-importance within a certain context. Sentences containing “老几” are rhetorical questions often accompanied by “sb. + 算老几,” “sb. + 是老几,” or simply “sb. + 老几.” Sometimes it is used to express contempt for others while other times, it is used to self-deprecate.

comments - 817 views - Fri, jan 22 16:36 2010

“白日做梦” simply means to daydream. Besides “白日做梦,” another popular way to say daydream is “做白日梦.” Moreover, “白日梦” can be used to indicate fantasies that cannot be fulfilled.

comments - 677 views - Thu, jan 21 15:25 2010

“求爷爷告奶奶” is a very colloquial expression. “爷爷” represents the authoritative figure in men and “奶奶” represents the authoritative figure in women; when used together, “求爷爷告奶奶” indicates seeking help from everyone.

comments - 773 views - Tue, jan 19 17:08 2010

“空头支票” literally means a bad check. When used as a figure of speech, “空头支票” indicates the inability or unwillingness of someone to fulfill a promise. This expression is often used with the verb “开” as in “开空头支票.”

comments - 1026 views - Fri, jan 15 17:17 2010

"空城计" is a tactic told in the Chinese masterpiece The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. However, it is important to know that colloquially, the usage of “空城计” today often indicates a place that should be packed with people but is not, rather than its original stratagem allusion; while the phrase “肚子唱空城计” means the stomach is growling from hunger.

comments - 939 views - Wed, jan 13 16:58 2010

“吹胡子瞪眼” is a figurative way to describe the look of someone who is extremely angry: Eyes open wide with beard blown upwards. Take note that this expression is rarely used to describe females; moreover, from the speaker's point of view, the person who is “吹胡子瞪眼” is in a tantrum or behaving excessively intense or making a show of authority.

comments - 849 views - Mon, jan 11 16:21 2010

“定心丸” is the name of a proprietary Chinese medicine that can make a person calm and stable. Some words or actions can also make people calm down with the same effect as the medicine. As a result, people use “定心丸” as a metaphor for such words or actions. “定心丸” is most commonly used together with the word “吃” or eat.

comments - 737 views - Fri, jan 08 18:01 2010

“站着说话不腰疼” is a colloquial phrase with different versions of how it came to be, however, most are in line with this: From the view point of the listener, the person “standing” and talking is more comfortable. A person in a relatively comfortable state when talking to someone else in a relatively uncomfortable state, because the person cannot feel the other person's discomfort, will speak casually and recklessly. This colloquial phrase is used to describe those who express their opinion freely without considering someone else's point of view.

comments - 806 views - Thu, jan 07 16:57 2010

Literally, “撕破脸” means to tear apart someone's face; other than the literal meaning, “脸” also indicates reputation. When people are in a good relationship, they will give face (or have consideration) for other people; however, if the “face” is torn, it's an indication that the relationship is fractured. The subjects of this expression mostly describe the two sides of a broken relationship.

comments - 742 views - Tue, jan 05 18:09 2010

Originally, “打游击” is a type of warfare in which a small group of combatants use mobile military tactics in the form of ambushes and raids to combat a larger and less mobile formal army. Therefore, guerrilla warfare is often mobile and without a fixed location. This phrase was later used to characterize someone who works, eats, sleeps, etc. at no fixed place. Most of the time, this phrase is used in a more jovial manner.

comments - 650 views - Wed, dec 30 16:30 2009

“横挑鼻子竖挑眼” means to look for flaws or to nitpick. The words “横” and “竖” represent different ways and the words “鼻子” and “眼” are used to substitute the different elements on something or somebody that are being nitpicked. The entire structure means to use various methods to nitpick at every detail.

comments - 861 views - Mon, dec 28 16:42 2009

“饽饽” is a term found in some Northern dialects, sometimes to refer to pastries or other similar snacks, sometimes to steamed buns or other lump-shaped wheaten foods made of flour. A “香饽饽” is something thought to be mouthwatering and tempting – something that everyone likes and wants. For this reason, the expression “香饽饽” is used to describe someone or something that is popular or in high demand.

comments - 706 views - Fri, dec 25 18:03 2009