out at heels and elbows -- tattered dress
Chinese idiom, Pinyin is zh ǒ ngju é zh ǒ uxi à n, which means a whole dress, elbow exposed, pull out a shoe, heel exposed. I'm very poor. It's from Chuang Tzu rang Wang.
The origin of Idioms
"Zhuangzi rang Wang" said: "three days without fire, ten years without clothing, crown and tassel absolutely, catch Jin and elbow see, accept the gun and heel decision."
Idioms and allusions
During the spring and Autumn period, Confucius' disciples lived in seclusion and lived a carefree life. He lived in the state of Wei. His face was haggard, his hands and feet were covered with cocoons, his clothes were in a state of dilapidation, and his life was very difficult. Sometimes he didn't make a fire for three days in a row, and he didn't make new clothes for ten years. When he straightened his hat, the tassel rope on the hat would break, and when he pulled down his skirt, his elbow would show.
Chinese PinYin : zhǒng jué zhǒu jiàn
out at heels and elbows -- tattered dress
recover one 's original simplicity ; return to one 's original nature. fǎn pǔ guī zhēn
a square bottom with a round cover -- incompatible. fāng dǐ yuán gài
marry someone with the proper ceremonies -- three lots of tea and six presents. sān chá liù lǐ