等米下鍋děng mǐ xià guōhave no rice left at home; wait for rice to put in one’s pan
? 分明知道我～，要?dú)⑽业那伞?《儒林外史》197) He knew quite well,you see,that we had no rice left at home: so he tried to cut the price.
? 書辦道： “我在這衙門內(nèi)已經(jīng)三代了，外頭也有些體面，家里還過得，就規(guī)規(guī)矩矩伺候本官升了還能夠，不 那些～的?！?(《紅樓夢(mèng)》1288) “My family has worked in this yamen for three genera tions，” said the clerk. “We’re respected hereabouts and not badly off;so we can afford to serve this commissioner on the level until his promotion. We’re not like those waiting for rice to put in their pan.” 等米下鍋deng mi xia guohave yet to get rice for the cooking pot—live from hand to mouth |