矮子里拔将军

矮子裡拔將軍
ǎizilǐbájiāngjūn
  1. (figuratively) to choose the best one among people which are not good
  2. to choose the best one among people which are not good

Wiktionary

Homographs

矮子里拔将军 ǎizilibájiāngjūn
  1. lit. choose a general from among the dwarfs
  2. fig. choose the best person available (out of a mediocre bunch)

Entry Composition

1 矮子 ǎizi
  1. short person
  2. dwarf
=2 里 lǐ variant of 里 lǐ
=2 里 lǐ
  1. lining
  2. interior
  3. inside
  4. internal
  5. also written 里 lǐ
=2 里 Lǐ Li (surname)
=2 里 lǐ
  1. li, ancient measure of length, approx. 500 m
  2. neighborhood
  3. ancient administrative unit of 25 families
  4. (Tw) borough, administrative unit between the township 镇 zhèn and neighborhood 邻 lín levels
3 拔 bá
  1. to pull up
  2. to pull out
  3. to draw out by suction
  4. to select
  5. to pick
  6. to stand out (above level)
  7. to surpass
  8. to seize
=4 将军 Jiāngjūn (common place name)
=4 将军 jiāngjūn
  1. general
  2. high-ranking military officer
  3. to check or checkmate
  4. fig. to embarrass
  5. to challenge
  6. to put sb on the spot