Explanation: Describe self-reliance and hard struggle with no foundation and poor conditions.

Sentence: Many of their bosses started from scratch.

Smell the chicken dance [wé n j and q ǐ w ǔ]

Commentary: Get up and dance the sword when you hear the cock crow. Metaphor after aspiring to serve the country, the people rise in time.

Sentence making: To learn, we must have the spirit of smelling chickens and dancing, and we must be diligent, diligent and diligent.

Make a comeback [ju m 4n tǔchóng lé]

Explanation: It is a metaphor for regaining strength after failure.

Sentence: The enemy is making a comeback, so we should always be vigilant.

Man can conquer nature.

Explanation: It means that human power can overcome nature.

Sentence: Man can conquer nature, and I believe we can overcome the disaster caused by typhoon.

cut off all means of retreat

Explanation: Metaphor means to make up your mind to go all out.

Water under the bridge. We must burn our bridges and make a final effort.

keep oneself awake by tying one's hair to a beam and prodding one's thigh with an awl ― be painstaking/diligent in one's studies

Description: Describe studying hard.

Sentence making: There is a learning heart in the air, but there is no spirit of hanging beam and stabbing stock.

Aim in all directions

Explanation: Describe having lofty aspirations and ideals.

Sentence: What's the promise of a good man staying at home all day?

ambitious

Commentary: Great ideal, grand ambition.

Sentence: Young people should have the ambition to do business.

Be angry and strive for strength [fā fèn tú qiáng]

Explanation: Make up your mind and strive for progress.

Sentence making: We should try our best to make our motherland better.

exert oneself constantly

Explanation: Strive for progress consciously and never relax.

Sentence: He can constantly improve himself in adversity, and he is not decadent at all.