不施脂粉而朝见皇帝。 -----------------国语辞典:唐代杨贵妃的妹妹虢国夫人常常不敷脂粉即朝见天子的故事。见宋《乐史.杨太真外传.卷上》。英语 lit. to present oneself confidently to the emperor, without makeup (as did the sister of Yang Guifei 楊貴妃|杨贵妃[Yang2 Gui4 fei1]) (idiom), fig. (of a woman) to show one's natural features, without makeup, to present oneself just as one is, without artifice
◎ 绠短汲深 gěngduǎn-jíshēn[My ability is unequal to the given task,for you cannot use a short rope to draw water from a deep weel] 拴捅的绳子很短,却要打深井里的水,比喻能力薄弱,难以胜任艰巨的任务;也比喻学识浅薄,不足以领悟深刻的道理。也作“短绠汲深” 短绠不可以汲深井之泉,知不几者不可与及圣人之言。——《荀子·荣辱》-----------------国语辞典:用短绳子吊取深井中的水。语本《荀子.荣辱》:「短绠不可以汲深井之泉,知不几者,可与及圣人之言。」后比喻才力不能胜任。唐.颜元孙〈干禄字书序〉:「绠短汲深,诚未达于涯涘;歧多路惑,庶有归于适从。」反大材小用