seize another's place; usurp another's fruits of labor
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to occupy another's nest; to usurp another's place, position, or possessions
formalThis idiom originates from the Book of Songs (《诗经·召南·鹊巢》), where the turtledove is said to occupy the magpie's nest. It is widely used in both literary and formal contexts to describe acts of usurpation or unjust seizure.
Tā他
tōng通
guò过
yīn阴
móu谋
shǒu手
duàn段
dāng当
shàng上
le了
jīng经
lǐ理
，
zhēn真
shì是
jiū鸠
zhàn占
què鹊
cháo巢
。
He became the manager through scheming; it's a classic case of seizing another's place.
Zhè这
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
míng明
míng明
shì是
wǒ我
de的
chuàng创
yì意
，
xiàn现
zài在
chéng成
guǒ果
què却
bèi被
tā他
ná拿
zǒu走
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
jiū鸠
zhàn占
què鹊
cháo巢
。
This project was clearly my idea, but now he's taken the credit; it's a total usurpation.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
，
wài外
zú族
rù入
qīn侵
qiáng强
zhàn占
zhōng中
yuán原
tǔ土
dì地
，
cháng常
bèi被
xíng形
róng容
wéi为
jiū鸠
zhàn占
què鹊
cháo巢
。
Historically, foreign invasions seizing the Central Plains were often described as occupying another's nest.