It refers to wishful thinking or unrealistic aspirations. This is used to describe someone who cherish foolish and exaggerated ideas. Example: John has neither experience nor qualification, yet he wants to be the director of the team? This is such a toad wishing to eat swan meat!
貓哭老鼠 – The cat cries for the rat
It refers to someone as a hypocrite.
Example: “The cat cries for the rat! I don’t think the rich people really care about the poor!”
殺雞取卵 – Killing a chicken for an egg
It means the loss outweighs the gain; Fail to realise long-term loss for only a short-term gain.
白紙黑字 – White paper, Black Characters
It means somethings that has already been confirmed and cannot be changed anymore. Example: The contract has been signed by both parties. White paper, black characters, you have no chance to renege.
Functions of Languages
Language, as we have seen, seems to be a highly developed form of animal signaling. But there is a missing link in rhe chain. How, and when, did we start to talk?