This is a fun quiz. See if you can match the western expression to its Chinese counter part. For instance, instead of “casting pearls before swine” a Chinese person might end up “playing music to oxen.” See how you do on matching the rest…
| 1. Biting off more than you can chew. 2. The truth will out. 3. A drop in the bucket. 4. Picky, picky, picky. 5. As ye sow, so shall ye reap. 6. The bad apple spoils the barrel. 7. On pins and needles. 8. It takes two to tango. 9. Bait and switch. 10. To lock the barn door after the horse is gone. 11. It’s the talk of the town. 12. It’s water under the bridge. 13. Like comparing apples and oranges. 14. Speak of the devil. 15. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. 16. Building castles in the air. 17. As thick as thieves. |
| A. There are no waves if there is no wind. B. When you speak of (tyrant) Tsao, Tsao appears. C. To display a lamb’s head and sell dog meat. D. To blow on the hair and search for tiny sores. E. The horse that leads the herd astray. F. Like climbing a tree to catch a fish. G. If one plants melons, one gets melons. H. Like ants on top of a hot cooking pot. I. To dig a well only after you are thirsty. J. Like bamboo shoots after a rain. K. Rising a tiger then finding it hard to dismount. L. The wood has already been used in building the boat. M. To be like wind and rain throughout the city. N. Paper cannot wrap up fire. O. One hair from nine oxen. P. It is impossible to clap with only one hand. Q. The head of the cow does not fit the mouth of a horse. (not #1). |
Answers? Click HERE.
