一言九鼎one word is more prized than nine tripods
世态炎凉fickle or snobbish ways of the world
乐不思蜀indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty
事必躬亲take care of every single thing personally
作茧自缚get enmeshed in a web of one's own spinning
依山傍水be near the mountains and rivers
冰清玉洁as clear as ice and as pure as jade
否极泰来extreme adversity marks the beginning of fortune
喧宾夺主the secondary supersedes the primary
噤若寒蝉as silent as a cicada in cold weather
因噎废食give up eating for fear of choking
垂涎欲滴drool over; hanker after/for something
大动干戈go to war; do something in a big way
天崩地裂heaven falling and earth rending
妄自尊大have too high an opinion of oneself
张冠李戴put Zhang's hat on Li's head-attribute something to the wrong person
息事宁人patch up a quarrel and reconcile the parties concerned; be willing to be reconciled
按图索骥locate sth. by a plan or chart; follow up a lead to solve a problem
振聋发聩open the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind
摩肩接踵jostle each other in a crowd
欲擒故纵leave somebody at large in order to apprehend him afterwards
欲盖弥彰The harder one tries to cover up/conceal a wrongdoing, the more conspicuous it becomes.
死有余辜Even death would not expiate somebody's crimes.
浅尝辄止stop after gaining a little knowledge
深居简出live in the seclusion of one's own home
滥竽充数pass oneself off as one of the players in an ensemble
牵强附会make a far-fetched comparison
玲珑剔透be ingeniously and exquisitely wrought/carved; be bright/clever/quick-witted/intelligent
百废待兴many devastated businesses are waiting to be started
节衣缩食economize/scrimp on food and clothing
草菅人命show utter contempt for human life
藏污纳垢store dirt and accept filth—shelter evil people and countenance evil practices
藕断丝连lotus root snaps but its fibres stay joined— apparently separated but actually not
虚怀若谷have a mind as open as a valley—be extremely modest
血雨腥风a foul wind and a rain of blood
觥筹交错the scene of a raucous party
越俎代庖take somebody else's job into one's own hands
跃然纸上show forth in one's writing
阳奉阴违comply in appearance but oppose in heart
附庸风雅mingle with men of letters and pose as a lover of culture
随声附和agree to what somebody says
鹿死谁手chasing a deer to see who's the winner
声色俱厉stern of voice and expression
拍案而起pound the table and stand up in anger
敷衍塞责do things as a mere discharge of one's duties
气宇轩昂have a dignified appearance
碌碌无为leading a vain and humdrum life
苦大仇深have suffered bitterly and nurse deep hatred
放荡不羁unconventional and unrestrained
追根溯源get to the bottom/root of something
拧成一股绳banded together like strands of a rope; make joint efforts