按图索骥

àntúsuǒjì

look for a steed with the aid of its picture—try to find something by following up a clue, look for a steed with the aid of its picture—deal with (or handle) a matter in a mechanical way

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try to locate something by following up a clue

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try to locate something by following up a clue

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àn tú suǒ jì

v. try to locate something

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an4 tu2 suo3 ji4

lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom), to do things along rigid, conventional lines, to try and find smth with the help of a clue

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按图索骥

àn tú suǒ jì

look for a noble steed to correspond with the one drawn; look for a steed with the aid of its picture -- try to locate sth. by following up a clue; follow up a clue to find sth.; follow up a lead to solve a problem; locate sth. by a plan or chart; search after sth. according to the tracks

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按圖索驥|按图索骥 [àn tú suǒ jì] ► lit. looking for a fine horse using only a picture (idiom) ► fig. to do things along rigid, conventional lines ► to try and find sth with the help of a clue