等米下锅děng mǐ xià guōhave no rice left at home; wait for rice to put in one’s pan
❍ 分明知道我～，要杀我的巧。(《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.
❍ 书办道： “我在这衙门内已经三代了，外头也有些体面，家里还过得，就规规矩矩伺候本官升了还能够，不 那些～的。” (《红楼梦》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.” 等米下锅deng mi xia guohave yet to get rice for the cooking pot—live from hand to mouth |