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吃白饭
[chī bái fàn]
Literal translation is to eat white rice or eat plain cooked rice.
But 白 can also mean “in vain” or “futile” — thus, eating white rice can refer to eat without paying, or living off others.
吃皇粮
[chī huáng liáng]
Literally means to eat from imperial coffers (粮：grain)
Figuratively, it means to live off the wages paid by the government or be an official.
吃寡酒
[chī guǎ jiǔ]
Literal translation is to eat widowed wine
Figuratively, it means to drink alcohol alone or without any snacks to match with.
吃花酒
[chī huā jiǔ]
Literal translation is to eat flower wine
Almost every phrase that includes the character 花 or 'flower' in Chinese has something to do with debauchery.
Figuratively, to eat (drink) flower wine means to go to a dinner party with sing-song girls or courtesans in attendance (with drinking, of course).
吃豆腐
[chī dòufǔ]
Literally means to eat tofu
Figuratively means to get advantage of someone, to flirt or even to mildly harass sb (depending on the context and at what place in China).
吃老本
[chī lǎo běn]
Literal translation is to eat old roots
Figuratively means to rest on one’s laurels and live off one’s past achievements (本 also means “capital” or “foundation”).
吃零嘴
[chī líng zuǐ]
Literal translation is to eat zero mouth
Figuratively, it means to take/nibble snacks between meals |
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Posted on 2013-1-18 08:44
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