"you cannot get blood from a turnip" in Chinese (Simplified)

• 榨不出油水

Definition

这个表达意思是你无法从没有的人或东西那里得到想要的，尤其是钱或努力。通常在别人无法提供时使用。

Usage Notes (Chinese (Simplified))

口语表达，常用于讨论金钱或物力无法再获取时。中文通常说“榨不出油水”。也有“巧妇难为无米之炊”等类似说法。

Examples

No matter how much you try, you cannot get blood from a turnip.

无论你怎么努力，**榨不出油水**。

If he has no money left, you cannot get blood from a turnip.

如果他已经没钱了，**榨不出油水**。

You cannot get blood from a turnip when someone has nothing to give.

当某人一无所有时，**榨不出油水**。

They keep asking me for more, but honestly, you cannot get blood from a turnip.

他们一直要更多，但说实话，**榨不出油水**。

He did his best, but you cannot get blood from a turnip—the fault wasn't his.

他已经尽力了，但**榨不出油水**——这不是他的错。

She begged her parents for more allowance, but you cannot get blood from a turnip if there’s no extra money.

她请求父母多给点零用钱，但如果没有多余的钱，**榨不出油水**。