uổng xích nhi trực tầm
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Bend a foot to gain a fathom? — the gentleman refuses; no profit licenses a crooked inch.
Literally: bend the foot-rule for a straight fathom
Sources & notes
Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.
Common questions
What does “uổng xích nhi trực tầm” mean?
Bend a foot to gain a fathom? — the gentleman refuses; no profit licenses a crooked inch. Literally: bend the foot-rule for a straight fathom
Is “uổng xích nhi trực tầm” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.