身在曹营心在汉 | shēn zài Cáo yíng xīn zài Hàn | live in Cao camp but have the heart in Han camp (idiom.); to be somewhere while longing to be somewhere else |
身在福中不知福 | shēn zài fú zhōng bù zhī fú | to live in plenty without appreciating it (idiom); not to know when one is well off |
近在咫尺 | jìn zài zhǐ chǐ | to be almost within reach; to be close at hand |
逍遥自在 | xiāo yáo zì zai | free and at leisure (idiom); unfettered; outside the reach of the law (of criminal); at large |
醉翁之意不在酒 | zuì wēng zhī yì bù zài jiǔ | wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol; having an ulterior motive; to have other things in mind; with an ax to grind; accomplishing something besides what one set out to do |
项庄舞剑, 志在沛公 | Xiàng Zhuāng wǔ jiàn , zhì zài Pèi Gōng | lit. Xiangzhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 刘邦 (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang 刘邦, Duke of Pei 沛公 and future Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen 鸿门宴; an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent |
项庄舞剑, 意在沛公 | Xiàng Zhuāng wǔ jiàn , yì zài Pèi Gōng | lit. Xiangzhuang performs the sword dance, but his mind is set on Liu Bang 刘邦 (idiom); refers to 206 BC plot to murder Liu Bang 刘邦, Duke of Pei 沛公 and future Han emperor, during a sword dance at Feast at Hongmen 鸿门宴; an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent |
养兵千日, 用在一朝 | yǎng bīng qiān rì , yòng zài yī cháo | lit. Train an army for a thousand days to use it for one morning. (idiom); fig. extensive preparation eventually pays off |
骨鲠在喉 | gǔ gěng zài hóu | fish bone stuck in one's throat (idiom); fig. to feel obliged to speak out candidly; sth on one's mind |
高高在上 | gāo gāo zài shàng | set up on high (idiom); not in touch with reality; aloof and remote |