when hungry, one does not choose food; act in desperation without being choosy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
act in desperation without being choosy; beggars can't be choosers
literaryUsed to describe a situation where someone, due to urgent need or desperation, accepts whatever is available without being selective. Can be used literally or figuratively.
Tā他
shī失
yè业
sān三
gè个
yuè月
le了
，
jī饥
bù不
zé择
shí食
，
shén什
me么
gōng工
zuò作
dōu都
yuàn愿
yì意
zuò做
。
He has been unemployed for three months and is so desperate that he's willing to take any job.
Zài在
shā沙
mò漠
lǐ里
duàn断
shuǐ水
liǎng两
tiān天
hòu后
，
tā他
jī饥
bù不
zé择
shí食
de地
hē喝
xià下
le了
hún浑
zhuó浊
de的
ní泥
shuǐ水
。
After being without water for two days in the desert, he drank the muddy water in desperation.
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Gōng公
sī司
zī资
jīn金
liàn链
kuài快
duàn断
le了
，
xiàn现
zài在
jī饥
bù不
zé择
shí食
，
rèn任
hé何
tóu投
zī资
dōu都
jiē接
shòu受
。
The company's funding chain is about to break, so they are now accepting any investment out of desperation.
Bié别
nà那
me么
tiāo挑
tī剔
le了
，
wǒ我
men们
shí时
jiān间
jǐn紧
pò迫
，
yǒu有
diǎn点
jī饥
bù不
zé择
shí食
le了
。
Don't be so picky. We're short on time and are getting a bit desperate.