pick the fat and choose the lean; be choosy
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to pick the fat and choose the lean; to be choosy or picky (especially about food, jobs, or benefits); to select only what suits oneself
derogatoryOften used disapprovingly to criticize someone who shirks hard tasks or accepts only favorable conditions.
Tā他
chī吃
dōng东
xi西
zǒng总
shì是
tiāo挑
féi肥
jiǎn拣
shòu瘦
，
zhè这
bù不
chī吃
nà那
bù不
chī吃
de的
。
He is always picky about his food, refusing to eat this or that.
Nián年
qīng轻
rén人
zhǎo找
gōng工
zuò作
bù不
néng能
tiāo挑
féi肥
jiǎn拣
shòu瘦
，
yào要
xiān先
jī积
lěi累
jīng经
yàn验
。
Young people can't be choosy about jobs; they need to accumulate experience first.
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Tā他
wéi为
rén人
tiāo挑
féi肥
jiǎn拣
shòu瘦
，
niān拈
qīng轻
pà怕
zhòng重
，
méi没
rén人
yuàn愿
yì意
gēn跟
tā他
hé合
zuò作
。
He is so picky in his dealings, always choosing the light tasks and fearing the heavy ones, that nobody wants to cooperate with him.