劳民伤财原指国家大事处理不当因而大量浪费人力物力。现在常指做了多余的事造成浪费。例没有计划好就开工造成返工，劳民伤财，该谁负责？英harass the people and drain the treasury; waste money and manpower; make people work hard and waste money for nothing;[查看详情]

因小失大由于小事疏忽而误了大事。指因图小利而造成大的损失。[查看详情]

鸡飞蛋打比喻什么也没得到落个两头都落空。赔了夫人又折兵。多指做事考虑不周造成坏的结果。英all is lost as the hen has flown away and the eggs in the coop are broken; come out emptyhanded;[查看详情]

杀鸡取卵为了得到鸡蛋而把母鸡杀了。比喻贪图眼前好处而损害长远利益。例请皇上勿再竭泽而渔杀鸡取卵，为小民留一线生机！英kill the hen to get the eggs;[查看详情]

得不偿失得到的抵不上付去的。例企图开垦一块得不偿失的坡地。英submarginal; the loss outweighs the gain; gain does not equal to loss; gains cannot make up for losses;[查看详情]

顾此失彼两者不能同时兼顾。例钱粮输纳必有定限，……限有定而百姓闲时办银逢限上纳，无顾此失彼之虑。——清黄六鸿《钱谷比限》英take one into consideration to the neglect of the other; attend to one thing and lose sight of another;[查看详情]

事倍功半指费力多而收获少。英get half the result with twice the effort;[查看详情]