杀鸡取卵 also杀鸡求蛋 /- - qiú dàn/ (to kill the chicken for its eggs) to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs | 杀鸡问客 (to ask the guest whether to kill a chicken) to put the burden of acceptance and refusal on the guest | 杀鸡吓猴 also 杀鸡儆猴 /- - jǐng -/ (to kill the chicken to frighten the monkey) to punish one to deter others | 杀鸡焉用牛刀 (why use an ox-knife to kill a chicken) why break a butterfly on the wheel
偷鸡不成蚀把米 also偷鸡不着蚀把米 /- - - zháo - - -/ (fail to steal the chicken and lose the rice—the bait) to go for wool and come back shorn | 偷鸡盗狗 (to steal dogs and chickens) low-life | 偷鸡摸狗 ① (to steal dogs and chickens) to be a petty thief ② to be a lecher; to have illicit
sex with women
闻鸡起舞 (to rise up brandishing swords at the sound of cock crow) noble-minded and prepared to spring into action at the proper time
