take advantage of opportunities for personal gain; feather one's nest
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to take advantage of every opportunity to seek personal gain; to feather one's own nest; to exploit any situation for profit
derogatoryUsed to describe someone who is greedy and takes advantage of their position to profit from every transaction or task they handle. Carries a negative, derogatory connotation.
Tā他
wéi为
rén人
tān贪
lán婪
，
zuò做
shén什
me么
shì事
dōu都
yàn雁
guò过
bá拔
máo毛
。
He is a greedy person who takes advantage of every opportunity to profit from anything he handles.
Zhè这
ge个
guān官
yuán员
yàn雁
guò过
bá拔
máo毛
，
lián连
jiù救
jì济
kuǎn款
dōu都
yào要
kè克
kòu扣
。
This official feathers his own nest even to the extent of embezzling relief funds.
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Zuò做
shēng生
yì意
jiǎng讲
jiù究
chéng诚
xìn信
，
bù不
néng能
yàn雁
guò过
bá拔
máo毛
。
Doing business requires integrity; one cannot exploit every opportunity for personal gain.