a swarm of people running after unwholesome things

a swarm of people running after unwholesome things

Entry: like an ant

Explanation: it refers to many like-minded people who pursue bad things. It also means that many people depend on the rich and powerful.

essential information

Usage: used as predicate and attribute; refers to the pursuit of fame and wealth; synonym: Ru ant Fu Tan; usage: used as predicate and attribute; refers to the pursuit of fame and wealth; commonly used degree: General; emotional color: derogatory word; idiom structure: combination; generation time: Ancient

Detailed explanation

origin

In the eighth volume of miscellaneous chapters of Zhuangzi, Xu Wugui was written by Lou, Shun also. Mutton doesn't admire ants. Ants admire mutton, and mutton stinks. There are ten thousand families in Tang Dynasty. When Yao heard of the sages of Shun and the land of his children, he said, "I hope I can get the glory of his coming." Shun was raised in the land of Tongtu. He was old and weak, but he had no choice but to return. Cheng xuanyingshu, Tang Dynasty: "the mutton of husband is fishy, and he doesn't want to admire ants. Ants smell it and come back.". Shun had benevolence, he did not admire the people, but the people were happy with him. So mutton is better than Shun, ants are better than the common people. 」

Source translation

The so-called hunchback, hard-working people, is like Shun. Mutton does not love ants, ants love mutton, because mutton has a fishy smell. Shun's behavior is fishy, and the people like him very much, so he moved many times from Chengdu. When he went to Deng's abandoned site, he gathered the first 100000 families. Yao learned about Shun's talent and recommended him from the barren land, saying that he hoped that he could give his kindness to the people. Shun was recommended from the barren land. He was getting old, his quick hearing and eyesight had declined, and he could not come back to rest. This is the so-called hunchback and hard-working man.

interpretation

"Mutton doesn't admire ants. Ants admire mutton. Mutton, mutton. Shun has the line of Shan, and the people are happy with it. " The smell of mutton. Like ants clinging to mutton. This is a metaphor for many like-minded people who pursue bad things. It also means that many people depend on the rich and powerful. It is also known as "if ants are attached to the smell", "colony ants are attached to the smell", "many ants are attracted to the smell", "like ants are greedy for the smell", "like flies gathering the smell", "like Simulium running acid".

Homologous allusions

Murphy ant

Application examples

In the epitaph of Ye Sicheng written by Liu Kezhuang in Song Dynasty, it is said that "scholars tend to their door like ants. "In the thirty four rhymes of sentimental events written by Han Luo of Tang Dynasty," all Mandarin herons return to the banquet, and gaokui also admires the mutton. " "In the past, the recommendation system was mainly composed of Mu Shan, Jie foot fly camp, and real talent wrapped up in feet." According to Xia Xie of Qing Dynasty, in the chronicle of the East and the west, the essence and the end of the leakage: "the people who smoke and sell can't help but open their eyes to admire the market of mutton."