杯水车薪 meaning in English
trying to put out a burning cartload of faggots with a cup of water -- an utterly inadequate measure; a drop in the bucket; make a useless attempt; quench the fire of a cartload of firewoods with one cup of water; take an utterly inadequate measure
Examples
- This was thin gruel for sadat .
这对于萨达特来说是杯水车薪。 - The famine is so bad , aid can only scratch the surface .
饥荒十分严重，援助也只是杯水车薪。 - Aid to the third world is at present little more than a drop in the ocean .
目前对第三世界的援助不过是杯水车薪。 - But that barely begins to address the need
但这无疑是杯水车薪。 - Still , that is a fraction of the need
然而，这仅仅是杯水车薪。