功亏一篑

gōngkuīyíkuì

fail to build a mound for want of one final basket of earth—fall short of success for lack of a final effort

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gong1 kui1 yi1 kui4

lit. to ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful, to fail through lack of a final effort, to spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar (idiom)

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功亏一篑

gōng kuī yí kuì

（比喻一件大事只差最后一点人力物力而不能成功） lack a basketful -- work not completed; abandon work that has been seriously undertaken; be just one step short of success (completion); between the cup and the lip; fail to succeed for lack of a final effort; fall short of completion by one basket of earth; fail on the eve of complete success; fail to build a mound for want of the last basket of earth; fail to make the final effort (finishing touch); just fall short of final completion; fall short of success at the last stage:

为什么你不继续编纂你的词典呢?功亏一篑， 你不觉得可惜吗? Why do you discontinue compiling your dictionary? Don't you think it a pity to give it up when it is nearly completed?

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功虧一簣|功亏一篑 [gōng kuī yī kuì] ► lit. to ruin the enterprise for the sake of one basketful ► to fail through lack of a final effort ► to spoil the ship for a ha'penny worth of tar (idiom)