形容人反复无常或惯于耍手段。

produce clouds with one turn of the hand and rain with another act in a self-contradictory manner blow hot and cold

礼：礼貌；兵：武力。先按通常的礼节同对方交涉，如果行不能，再用武力或其他强硬手段解决。

try peaceful means before resorting to force

要：古“腰”字；领：衣领。要领：比喻关键。抓不住要领或关键。

fail to grasp the main point

黑夜无人知晓。

Unknown in the late night

被逼得没有办法，不得不这样。

forced to do something against ones will

赃：赃物；枉：歪曲，破坏。贪污受贿，违犯法纪。

pervert justice for a bribe

耍花招欺骗人。

resort to deception

绞尽脑汁，苦思苦想。

contemplate/think hard

穷：困厄；短：短小。指人一到无路可走的时候，思想迟钝，办法也就不多了。

When a man is poor, he is lacking in wisdom Poverty stifles wisdom

一概：同一标准，一律。指处理事情或问题不分性质，不加区别，用同一标准来对待或处理。

treat matters in an undiscriminating manner

粗：粗蔬。指做事马虎，不细心。

be careless

巧取：软骗；豪夺：强抢。旧时形容达官富豪谋取他人财物的手段。现指用各种方法谋取财物。

get (somebodys belongings, rights etc.) by force or trickery

从大坛子里捉王八。比喻想要捕捉的对象已在掌握之中。形容手到擒来，轻易而有把握。

be in an inescapable situation

磨快刀子等待。比喻做好准备，等待时机。

sharpen ones weapon to be ready for a fight at full cock be combat ready grid up ones loins grind weapons sharp in preparation steel ones blade

另外开辟一条路。比喻另创一种风格或方法。

Finding an alternative path

化：改变，转变。原指大行其道，使天下化之。后形容做事情不小心谨慎。

carelesslycasuallysloppily

薪：柴草；沸：沸腾。抽掉锅底下的柴火，使锅里的水不再翻滚。比喻从根本上解决问题。

take out the firewood to stop the pot boiling take drastic measures to stop sth

淡然：不经心，不在意；处：处理，对待。以漫不经心的态度对待事物。

take things coolly

原指订立法律与人民相约遵守。后泛指订立简单的条款。

make a few simple rules to be observed by all concerned

指政治措施要宽和严互相补充。同“宽猛相济”。

the stick and the carrot severity tempered with gentleness use a proper mixture of severity and gentleness Generosity and severity complement each other