很地道的成语翻译

丹尼尔

中华文化博大精深，成语俗语都是智慧结晶，但翻译成英文如果表达不当，却容易引起误解。所以，一起来学学常见中文成语的英译很有必要!

　　01

" M7 {2 L& w  h+ t. R1 e$ H　　爱屋及乌

; v* w1 u& t5 `) M　　Love me, love my dog.
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　　02

: g: Y* n, I" a' l4 t6 {" p2 j- _4 Q　　百闻不如一见

( B3 G0 L, V+ R4 G/ @, h0 N　　One look is worth a thousand words.

! l; f3 c6 `8 G　　Seeing is believing.
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　　03

　　比上不足，比下有余
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　　to fall short of the best, but be better than the worst

　　04
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; E; w! F! S2 P% U+ u8 O' K$ m3 y　　笨鸟先飞
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　　A slow sparrow should make an early start.
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5 G( v3 Z1 I9 m2 }7 U8 g! h" q  e　　05

　　不遗余力

0 U1 B6 L! m% [& A: q: ~6 e; d　　spare no effort; go all out; do one's best

　　06
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　　不打不成交
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　　No discord, no concord.

5 i0 l" c$ X4 m8 }; ]5 T0 z　　07
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　　拆东墙补西墙
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　　rob Peter to pay Paul
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　　08
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0 b4 L  E% v( ^" I: t　　辞旧迎新
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　　bid farewell to the old and usher in the new

6 z; N% l9 o1 o4 N5 k　　09

" |" k. n, R5 n$ B+ i2 T7 f　　大事化小，小事化了
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　　try first to make their mistake sound less serious and then to reduce it to nothing at all

1 u) j7 \9 z) d- ]　　10
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2 n: [4 v$ }" n# X　　大开眼界

/ B/ s3 I, G- c0 U! L5 i　　broaden one's horizon; be an eye-opener
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　　11

  M) k( E( ~' g; f　　国泰民安

　　the country flourishes and people live in peace
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　　12
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) C; F% ?1 D* `! a' _3 R　　过犹不及

9 p! G- V/ `5 l　　going beyond the limit is as bad as falling short; excess is just as bad as deficiency;
  X% _% H  }8 y
　　too much is as bad as too little

　　13
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  Z+ p+ ~0 m8 n1 E7 n# y　　好了伤疤忘了疼

　　once on shore, one prays no more
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$ w: Q8 B% Y1 _1 X9 ^. E　　14

  _! Z2 T0 h3 U　　好事不出门，坏事传千里
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　　Bad news travels fast.

　　15
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　　和气生财
1 `8 L' M4 s! S
　　harmony brings wealth;

　　friendliness is conducive to business success

　　16
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! i2 O. e9 X, p( R2 u: p8 Z/ u1 Z　　活到老学到老

　　never too old to learn

& G3 L3 ^( R, X. m  B　　17

! o9 L  r+ n1 Y5 f　　既往不咎

  z  J8 Y2 m9 t) l9 y' c  z& v　　let bygones be bygones

9 J' v9 x# Q0 [$ j: w  ~3 W9 v# \/ L　　18

　　金无足赤，人无完人
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5 `* b0 z2 _( L5 q% ~1 C( W7 M　　There are spots even on the sun.
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　　19
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  x6 v1 ^' t2 v: J  @$ u, T7 _　　金玉满堂

/ N  P2 C! }  G2 P, I- n; n# {" _3 H　　Treasures fill the home.
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　　20
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　　脚踏实地

　　be down-to-earth
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　　21
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　　脚踩两只船

0 ?$ d- A- F& X1 b  _1 o　　sit on the fence; be a fence-sitter; have a foot in either camp
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　　22
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: M  g. o* N! T0 n　　君子之交淡如水

  j3 R2 ]6 ^& ~　　A hedge between keeps friendship green.
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　　23

4 {' T; [0 G; y9 w　　老生常谈，陈词滥调
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0 L) }# f0 S& Y& U: {　　cut and dried; cliché
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. z. d6 W0 O! W  \( J; r1 a　　24

$ p; Q7 {; O2 H/ I* j8 ^' V　　礼尚往来

2 q. Q/ ^" u7 p2 [5 `& [" D+ f& \　　Courtesy calls for reciprocity.
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" r+ B  M; _% n  g$ y7 m. E0 h7 T+ e　　25
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　　留得青山在，不怕没柴烧
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: Z# m0 I; S7 w9 N+ a" ^4 r& V　　Where there is life, there is hope.

4 s. t% f1 Q  K- i9 y　　26

　　马到成功
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2 j* q+ S$ D2 `5 l( [# }　　achieve immediate victory; win instant success
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　　27

1 N. C3 V6 l* v% W# C! i, w+ m# S8 w　　名利双收
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: h4 g7 X( b8 Q% X2 L+ ?　　gain both fame and wealth

　　28
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; P9 m/ \; F! n7 h5 o, h& r　　茅塞顿开
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　　be suddenly enlightened

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　　没有规矩，不成方圆

　　Nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards.

& l( t5 U# C7 X9 G; U) m- T- k7 V　　30

' L& O& s9 D! C$ f　　每逢佳节倍思亲

7 j6 b/ g; u1 _, k/ K; l8 h　　On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away.

　　31
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0 @, L, @( T! J! ^$ M" y- Y　　谋事在人，成事在天

$ V# U/ @' r  H7 [, B% y　　Man proposes; God disposes.
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0 K; |' e8 ]& j4 k+ ~& d　　32
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. S0 s+ D9 I2 T% s" q- Y$ V　　弄巧成拙

　　make a fool of oneself in trying to be smart

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  w- W% j+ L" Z+ S; ]8 m　　赔了夫人又折兵
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% B7 r7 X2 p% Y: R　　suffer a double loss; lose the bait along with the fish

4 l( T& \8 i' b* \3 f9 C　　34

: t* X1 V) V: s( [) H　　抛砖引玉

9 m6 ~+ m( C/ O% ?6 J! ]　　a modest spur to induce others to come forward with valuable contributions; throw a sprat to catch a whale

& c& G1 Y+ T' O& p　　35

　　破釜沉舟
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5 U( W$ O- N- B# R& P　　cut off all means of retreat;burn one's own way of retreat and be determined to fight to the end

　　36

- C. x2 T" d  J) n1 t# S' S5 e; b　　抢得先机

　　take the preemptive opportunities

　　37
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　　巧妇难为无米之炊

8 P( I8 i9 r, q1 T/ i3 r- B5 B0 n7 N　　One can't make bricks without straw.
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　　38
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　　千里之行始于足下

　　a thousand-li journey begins with the first step--the highest eminence is to be gained step by step
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8 a5 a$ o3 b: h1 m3 r+ P　　39

　　前事不忘，后事之师
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　　Past experience, if not forgotten, is a guide for the future.
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　　40
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, I$ S) K" v5 O8 @' y! y9 f  O$ |　　前怕狼，后怕虎

　　fear wolves ahead and tigers behind; hesitate in doing something
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　　41
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  _( a- D7 c! C7 {- m/ [) ?% h3 D　　强龙难压地头蛇

1 Z* f$ q; h. `8 m: y& F　　The mighty dragon is no match for the native serpent.

) [; z6 \$ O2 B: [& _　　42

# G' ~9 e$ C1 A5 f1 R5 w　　瑞雪兆丰年

- D9 z* i3 j$ z' h/ E, f' Z) d8 o　　A fall of seasonal snow gives promise of a fruitful year

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" P/ c0 u- {, A5 F1 S; j　　人逢喜事精神爽
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! Y' Q5 k7 J, M' q　　People are in high spirits when involved in happy events.
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$ b9 K5 d! U  y9 \0 z8 r: S　　44

　　世上无难事，只怕有心人

& }% y5 O3 F! U0 w4 J; O　　Where there is a will, there is a way.

　　45
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: r, G! [: Q6 O4 c% F6 g3 R: Z　　世外桃源

　　a retreat away from the turmoil of the world

　　46
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4 a  z) }" Z7 g! S, G　　人之初，性本善

. g* o9 ?4 E! S! Y　　Humans are born good.

　　47

, P" W: F' Z- J2 `& ~) T　　上有天堂，下有苏杭

　　Just as there is paradise in heaven, there are Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth

　　48

- l# ]# F7 A! x8 X# W. n/ y　　塞翁失马，焉知非福
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9 h: t- M( L& M! h* K% L: J  L9 A　　a blessing in disguise;
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　　Every cloud has a silver lining.
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$ u/ j' s) D* c$ h　　49
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　　三十而立
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　　A man should be independent at the age of thirty. /At thirty, a man should be able to think for himself.

　　50

　　水涨船高
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　　A ship rises with the tide

　　51
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　　时不我待

　　Time and tide wait for no man.
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　　52

　　杀鸡用牛刀

　　use a steam-hammer to crack nuts

0 }: Y: J; Y1 [: @( f9 x; O, c　　53

　　实事求是
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　　seek truth from facts; be practical and realistic; be true to facts

2 V- s1 ?3 d+ V6 E5 N! L8 ^& I　　54
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　　说曹操，曹操到
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% D, @, F  ?. i, ^( |　　speak of the devil

( Q+ k( W1 H8 g2 p& _9 x# Q0 O　　55

　　实话实说

　　speak the plain truth; call a spade a spade; tell it as it is
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　　56

; q- O8 _$ z* `5 W7 d% R　　实践是检验真理的唯一标准

　　Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.57
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. ~; f* Y5 S" D3 t　　韬光养晦
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- S5 M5 ~4 u% [0 K7 I$ Z1 Y+ C　　hide one's capacities and bide one's time58
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' ^( j" g+ ]' \/ W3 t/ X　　糖衣炮弹

6 n9 c# t' S" Z- {: J; b1 f% j　　sugar-coated bullets59

$ e3 D! P5 H8 E/ F　　天有不测风云

* D& h) e: K& A' G　　Anything unexpected may happen. a bolt from the blue60
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% k2 {: y# B  C/ [( P　　团结就是力量
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3 R4 U+ t( C7 l& p& s  }! {　　Unity is strength.

' w5 h9 m8 P' _0 v　　61
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　　跳进黄河洗不清

　　Even if one jumped into the Yellow River, one can not wash oneself clean - there's nothing one can do to clear one's name
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　　62

4 b/ V% Y  K$ p$ r- U　　歪风邪气
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　　unhealthy trends and vulgar practices

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9 h2 I8 ^  I0 `　　物以类聚，人以群分

　　Birds of a feather flock together.

9 v3 i" G( ^0 M  K5 O　　64

　　望子成龙
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6 `& h+ d. W* |3 S* S0 e　　hold high hopes for one's child

　　65

　　唯利是图

- [5 B+ a& g- H6 h9 r( m　　seek nothing but profits; be blind to all but one's own interests

) M- S& w' z% T7 o　　66

, c7 n& R' U% F, u2 T2 ~$ m( ~　　无中生有

$ O! U& B  @3 Q& c- i; z　　a sheer fabrication out of nothing; fabricate rumors out of thin air

7 |4 D# b6 j0 D+ q  k5 f' z9 ?　　67
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　　无风不起浪

0 N% ^) C' o5 {/ @0 `2 t　　There are no waves without wind. Nothing comes of nothing.
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　　68

% i( S/ Z( B8 l　　徇私枉法
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　　twist the law to suit one's own purpose
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　　69

. B0 [" t7 L7 C1 {8 K; S$ M1 B) n　　新官上任三把火

　　a new broom sweeps clean
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　　蓄势待发

+ _8 t6 c) {( p! N( G　　accumulate strength for a take-off
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+ c: S' H  m$ A* {　　71
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　　心想事成
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% Y3 S" T) b1 V; D3 u1 @+ t　　May all your wish come true

! j0 R  o6 y& h, O2 q( G( k　　72

　　心照不宣

1 o$ \/ l- o' J. t! U0 U　　have a tacit understanding; thoroughly understand each other, without having exchanged a word of explanation
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2 l1 o/ t" T8 O* R( ?" h　　73

4 L1 j8 P+ I  p　　先入为主

3 O% {4 W' T, h6 h% d( Q& M0 N　　First impressions are firmly entrenched.
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. \3 `1 l% `1 `% Q　　74

　　先下手为强
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　　He who strikes first gains the advantage.

　　The best defense is offense.

　　75
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　　热锅上的蚂蚁
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　　ants on a hot pan
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　　76

　　现身说法

　　warn people by taking oneself as an example

　　77
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　　息事宁人

　　pour oil on troubled waters; patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned

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　　循序渐进

  E$ m1 m1 [* g  o8 e* h　　proceed in an orderly way and step by step; advance gradually in due order
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　　79
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　　严以律己，宽以待人
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, W7 Y! A0 C8 m4 l) |　　be strict with oneself and lenient with others

　　80

　　有情人终成眷属

1 D. e* y9 I, b, D( H　　Jack shall have Jill, all shall be well.81

/ M) o+ r+ E% {) E, [* `/ {　　有钱能使鬼推磨
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　　Money makes the mare go./ Money talks.82

　　有识之士
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　　a man of insight83

4 u2 {- \; Z' u& k, Y8 R4 z　　有勇无谋
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　　bold but not crafty84
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! [8 E4 g5 Q1 m# M7 F　　有缘千里来相会

2 d" }0 A/ o3 z　　Separated as we are thousands of miles apart, we come together as if by predestination.85

　　与时俱进

, ?( A$ W3 Q! D　　keep pace with the times86

" d+ b/ S: t: h! X　　以人为本
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% q5 x2 @- F& d% z* p4 h　　people-oriented
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　　87

　　因材施教
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* j$ j6 O* Q( u. z7 q　　teach students according to their aptitude

　　88

8 V+ y) J& H. v. D　　欲穷千里目，更上一层楼

: b$ u! b7 Y4 f　　to ascend another storey to see a thousand miles further; Ascend further, were you to look farther.
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9 |6 [1 f+ |) T# o+ X　　89

/ b+ T( W& {5 ~% H　　欲速则不达
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4 W: S! @- d; E5 |- s1 {3 e　　Haste makes waste.

　　More haste, less speed.
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" I9 U, H; b' L　　90

　　优胜劣汰

6 K& a. h5 f9 a  I& D　　survival of the fittest
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$ [$ @- f7 {- n3 ^9 v0 {/ [　　91
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2 N% w$ Y( |6 P0 p% ^$ n' X9 o. b! _　　英雄所见略同
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; ^5 |5 J+ X: B　　Great minds think alike.
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　　92

6 _/ V- r9 D4 z1 H　　冤家宜解不宜结

　　Better make friends than make enemies.

8 Z$ k3 A% I2 F' ?　　93

　　冤假错案

; I/ R; w8 T  ~8 z- r0 z/ S# I( A　　cases in which people were unjustly, falsely or wrongly charged or sentenced; unjust, false or wrong cases

　　94
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: B+ }& J% l8 n　　一言既出，驷马难追

　　A promise is a promise.

4 b+ N- n3 j6 y　　A real man never goes back on his words.
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# q( r; G3 Y1 ~& t　　95

　　招财进宝

　　bring in wealth and treasure
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, y* b* L; |! ?　　债台高筑
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　　become debt-ridden

　　97
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) G. L3 m( |* V. S3 Q　　众矢之的

　　target of public criticism
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& c& o5 l7 k6 u9 e  B6 u$ b　　98

2 }6 y/ K' b. d/ B  z& \% j　　纸上谈兵

7 y/ w( Q& _/ j+ l: C- ]# a& x　　be an armchair strategist

　　99

  E  d( {# r# g- ]　　纸包不住火

　　You can't wrap fire in paper.
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　　What's done by night appears by day.

　　100

7 g: z1 f+ Z3 U! Q4 H2 n5 H　　左右为难

　　caught in a dilemma; between the devil and the deep blue sea

Justing

应根据前后语境翻译，同一成语可以有不同译法。