mend the fold after the sheep is lost; take belated remedial action
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to mend the fold after the sheep is lost; to take corrective action after suffering a loss
literaryOften used to emphasize that it's better to take action late than never, and to learn from mistakes. The phrase is derived from 'Warring States Strategies: Chu IV'.
Zhè这
cì次
xiàng项
mù目
shī失
bài败
shì是
gè个
jiào教
xun训
，
wǒ我
men们
yào要
wáng亡
yáng羊
bǔ补
láo牢
，
gǎi改
jìn进
liú流
chéng程
。
The project failure is a lesson; we must mend our ways and improve the process.
Suī虽
rán然
gōng公
sī司
shù数
jù据
xiè泄
lòu露
le了
，
dàn但
wáng亡
yáng羊
bǔ补
láo牢
，
wèi未
wéi为
chí迟
yě也
，
gǎn赶
jǐn紧
jiā加
qiáng强
wǎng网
luò络
ān安
quán全
ba吧
。
Although the company's data was leaked, it's not too late to lock the stable door—strengthen network security now.
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Hái孩
zi子
zhè这
cì次
kǎo考
shì试
chéng成
jì绩
bù不
hǎo好
，
wǒ我
men们
wáng亡
yáng羊
bǔ补
láo牢
，
bāng帮
tā他
zhì制
dìng定
le了
xīn新
de的
xué学
xí习
jì计
huà划
。
The child did poorly on this exam, so we're taking corrective action by helping him make a new study plan.