浑水摸鱼 fish in troubled waters
Explanation
比喻乘乱从中捞取好处。
It means to take advantage of chaos to gain benefits.
Origin Story
战国时期，一个渔民在河边捕鱼，突然，一场大雨倾盆而下，河水变得又浑又浊。其他的渔民都纷纷收网回家了，只有这个渔民却依然在河里摸索着。雨过天晴，人们发现这个渔民竟然比平时捕到了更多的鱼。原来，在浑浊的河水中，鱼看不清东西，反而更容易被捕捉。这个渔民就是利用了河水浑浊的机会，浑水摸鱼，获得更多的渔获。
During the Warring States period in China, a fisherman was fishing by the river. Suddenly, a heavy rain poured down, making the river water muddy and turbid. Other fishermen packed up their nets and went home, but this fisherman was still searching in the river. After the rain, people found that he had caught more fish than usual. It turned out that in the muddy water, the fish could not see clearly, making them easier to catch. This fisherman took advantage of the muddy water to catch more fish.
Usage
用作谓语、定语；指乘混乱从中捞取利益。
Used as predicate and attributive; it means to take advantage of chaos to gain benefits.
Examples
-
市场经济条件下,有人利用信息不对称浑水摸鱼,牟取暴利。
shichang jingji tiaojian xia, youren liyong xinxi bu duichen hun shui mo yu, mouqu baoli. yixie bufa fenzi zai shehui dongdang shiqi hun shui mo yu, chenji zuoan.
In a market economy, some people take advantage of information asymmetry to make huge profits by foul means.
-
一些不法分子在社会动荡时期浑水摸鱼，趁机作案。
Some criminals take advantage of social unrest to commit crimes.