按图索骥 to search for a good horse by following the picture
Explanation
这个成语比喻死板地按照条文或模式办事，缺乏灵活性和创造性。也指按照线索去寻求。
This idiom is used to describe someone who follows the rules or a pattern rigidly, lacking flexibility and creativity. It also means to seek clues.
Origin Story
战国时期，著名的相马专家孙阳，人称伯乐。他写了一本《相马经》，详细描述了如何识别千里马。孙阳的儿子从小就跟着父亲学相马，他把《相马经》读得滚瓜烂熟，也认为自己掌握了相马的秘诀。有一天，他自以为掌握了相马的精髓，便按照书上的图画，到集市上寻找良马。他仔细地观察每一匹马，最终找到了一只长得像马，但实际上是癞蛤蟆的“千里马”。他兴奋地将这只癞蛤蟆带回家，兴致勃勃地向父亲炫耀自己的成果。伯乐一看，哭笑不得，他告诉儿子：“儿子，相马不能只看图画，要根据实际情况进行判断，不能一味地按图索骥，否则就会像你一样，找来找去，最终还是找不到真正的千里马。”
During the Warring States period, Sun Yang, known as Bole, was a famous horse expert. He wrote a book called "The Classic of Horse Assessment", which detailed how to identify a Thousand-Mile-Horse. Sun Yang's son learned to judge horses from his father from a young age, and he read the "Classic of Horse Assessment" in detail. He believed that he had mastered the secrets of horse assessment. One day, believing that he had mastered the essence of horse assessment, he went to the market to find a good horse, based on the pictures in the book. He carefully observed each horse and finally found a "Thousand-Mile-Horse" that looked like a horse, but was actually a toad. He excitedly brought this toad home and showed his father his achievements with great enthusiasm. Bole, upon seeing it, could only laugh. He told his son: "Son, when assessing horses, you can't just look at pictures. You need to judge according to the actual situation and not just look for the pictures. Otherwise, you'll end up like you, searching here and there and still not finding the real Thousand-Mile-Horse."
Usage
这个成语常用来说明某个人做事墨守成规，没有灵活变通的能力，或者说在寻找某些东西的时候，只依赖固定的模式，而没有根据实际情况灵活调整，最终会得不偿失。
This idiom is often used to describe someone who is rigid and inflexible in their work, or who relies only on a fixed pattern when looking for something, without adjusting to the actual situation, which will ultimately lead to failure.
Examples
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他总是按照老方法做事，完全是按图索骥，缺乏创新精神。
ta zong shi an zhao lao fangfa zuo shi, wanquan shi an tu suo ji, quefa chuangxin jingshen.
He always does things according to the old methods, he is a complete stickler for the rules and lacks a sense of innovation.
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你不能只按图索骥，要根据实际情况灵活变通。
ni bu neng zhi an tu suo ji, yao genju shiji qingkuang linhua biantong.
You can't just follow the rules, you need to be flexible and adapt to the circumstances.