喝西北风hē xī běi fēngdrink the northwest wind—have nothing to eat; live on air;starve
❍ 请问，我们如何能空肚子爬上七八天回到延安？～？(杜鹏程《保卫延安》 111) Will someone please tel me how we’re going to march seven or eight days back to Yenan on empty stomachs? What are we going to eat—the north-west wind?/你们掉队掉的好，不然要跟侯殿坤去～。(曲波《林海雪原》476) You fellows were lucky to have fallen behind. Otherwise,you’d have to starve with Hou.
❍ 都把与你去丢在水里， 叫我一家老小嗑西北风！ (《儒林外史》39)If I give you all my silver to play ducks and drakes with,my family will have to live on air. 喝西北风he xi bei fengdrink the northwest wind—have nothing to eat |