take the lead ( pt took ) , pp taken ⇒ 厂长亲自出马谈这些生意。 Chǎngzhǎng qīnzì chūmǎ tán zhèxiē shēngyì. → The factory director took the lead in these business discussions.
戎马
( 字 ) war horse
木马
( 鞍马 ) vaulting horse
落马
be brought to justice
马上
right away ⇒ 他马上就到。 Tā mǎshàng jiù dào. → He'll be here right away. ⇒ 妈妈接到电话后,马上就走了。 Māma jiēdào diànhuà hòu, mǎshàng jiù zǒu le. → After getting the call, Mum left right away. ⇒ 准备好了吗？我们马上就走。 Zhǔnbèi hǎole ma? Wǒmen mǎshàng jiù zǒu. → Are you ready? We're going right now.
马匹
horse
马戏
circus
马脚
giveaway ⇒ 走私者在海关露了马脚。 Zǒusīzhě zài hǎiguān lòule mǎjiǎo. → The smugglers gave themselves away at customs.
马虎
careless
马路
road
马达
motor
下马威
initial show of strength
回马枪
sudden retaliation
拍马屁
suck up ⇒ 他很善于拍马屁。 Tā hěn shànyú pāi mǎpì. → He's very good at sucking up to people.
斑马线
zebra crossing
红马甲
stockbroker
露马脚
give oneself away ( pt gave ) , pp given
马后炮
⇒ 他总是爱放马后炮。 Tā zǒngshì ài fàng mǎhòupào. → He's always too slow to act. ⇒ 事后才提建议,这不是马后炮嘛！ Shì hòu cái tí jiànyì, zhè bùshì mǎhòupào ma! → Isn't it a bit late to be making suggestions after the event?
马大哈
careless
马拉松
marathon ⇒ 马拉松式的研究 mǎlāsōng shì de yánjiū → a marathon piece of research
马赛克
( 建筑 ) mosaic
马马虎虎
( 随随便便 ) careless
一马当先
take the lead
兵强马壮
military might
兵荒马乱
the turmoil of war
单枪匹马
single-handedly
塞翁失马
blessing in disguise
害群之马
black sheep ⇒ 她是这个班里的害群之马。 Tā shì zhège bān li de hài qún zhī mǎ. → She's the black sheep of the class.
快马加鞭
go at top speed
指鹿为马
distort the facts
捅马蜂窝
create pandemonium
汗马功劳
distinguished service ⇒ 他为公司的创建立下了汗马功劳。 Tā wèi gōngsī de chuàngjiàn lìxiàle hàn mǎ gōngláo. → He distinguished himself in the work involved in setting up the company.
溜须拍马
toady
白马王子
knight in shining armour ( 英 ) 或 armor ( 美 )
罗马数字
Roman numeral
蛛丝马迹
clues ⇒ 大劫案的蛛丝马迹渐渐浮出水面。 Dà jié'àn de zhū sī mǎ jì jiànjiàn fú chū shuǐmiàn. → Clues were gradually starting to surface in the big robbery case.
走马看花
have a superficial understanding
车水马龙
heavy traffic
非驴非马
be neither one thing nor the other
马不停蹄
non-stop
马到成功
achieve immediate success
马来西亚
Malaysia
牛头不对马嘴
incongruous
风马牛不相及
be completely at odds ⇒ 这部电影的配乐与剧情风马牛不相及。 Zhè bù diànyǐng de pèiyuè yǔ jùqíng fēng mǎ niú bù xiāng jí. → The background music to this film is completely at odds with the storyline.