捉襟见肘

Pronunciation: zhuō jīn jiàn zhǒu Literal meaning: Pulling the lapel reveals the elbow

Origin & Usage

The Zhuangzi describes Zengzi in poverty: he had not made a coat in ten years, and when he straightened his cap the chin-strap snapped, when he pulled (捉) his lapel (襟) across, his elbow (肘) came through (见). The clothing is failing at three points at once, and the comedy is exact — every attempt to make himself presentable exposes something else. That is what the phrase carries over. Budgets and staffing, where covering one gap opens another; the sense is of a shortage that can no longer be fixed by rearrangement.

Examples

English: "The budget constraints left the department financially stretched."

Chinese: 预算限制让部门捉襟见肘。