绞尽脑汁 rack one's brains
Explanation
形容费尽心思，用尽脑筋。
To describe someone who has exhausted all their mental strength.
Origin Story
话说很久以前，在一个偏僻的小山村里，住着一对善良的夫妇。他们唯一的儿子从小就聪明好学，长大后却立志成为一名发明家。一天，村里来了位高僧，儿子想向他请教一些关于发明创造的问题，但高僧却只留下了一道谜题：“如何用最简单的工具，让一只小小的木鸟飞上天空？” 儿子绞尽脑汁，日夜苦思冥想，翻阅了大量的书籍，查阅了各种资料，始终没有找到答案。他尝试了各种方法，制作了无数个模型，都以失败告终。眼看期限将至，儿子越来越焦虑，他开始怀疑自己的能力，甚至开始动摇自己的梦想。这时，他想起了父母的教诲：无论遇到什么困难，都不要轻易放弃，要坚持不懈地努力。他擦干眼泪，重新振作起来，继续他的研究。他尝试着改变思路，不再执着于模仿鸟类翅膀的结构，而是从流体力学和空气动力学的角度出发，重新设计木鸟的造型和结构。经过无数次的实验和改进，他终于成功地设计出了一款能够飞翔的木鸟。这只木鸟的造型独特，结构简单，但却能依靠巧妙的设计，在空中保持平衡，并通过简单的动力装置，实现持续稳定的飞行。当木鸟飞上天空的那一刻，儿子激动万分，多年的努力终于得到了回报。他明白了，发明创造并非一蹴而就，需要不断地探索、尝试和改进，更需要坚持不懈的精神。
Long ago, in a remote mountain village, lived a kind couple. Their only son was intelligent and studious since childhood, and grew up to become an inventor. One day, a high monk came to the village, and the son wanted to ask him some questions about invention and creation, but the monk only left a riddle: "How to use the simplest tools to make a small wooden bird fly into the sky?" The son racked his brains, thinking day and night, reading a large number of books and consulting various materials, but still couldn't find the answer. He tried various methods, made countless models, all ending in failure. As the deadline approached, the son became increasingly anxious. He began to doubt his abilities and even wavered in his dreams. At this time, he remembered his parents' teachings: No matter what difficulties you encounter, never give up easily, and persevere. He wiped away his tears, regained his composure, and continued his research. He tried to change his thinking, no longer clinging to the structure of bird wings, but starting from the perspective of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, redesigning the shape and structure of the wooden bird. After countless experiments and improvements, he finally succeeded in designing a wooden bird that could fly. This wooden bird has a unique shape and simple structure, but through clever design, it can maintain balance in the air and achieve sustained and stable flight through a simple power device. The moment the wooden bird flew into the sky, the son was extremely excited; years of hard work finally paid off. He understood that invention and creation is not something that can be achieved overnight. It requires continuous exploration, experimentation, and improvement, and more importantly, unwavering perseverance.
Usage
通常作谓语、宾语、定语；表示费尽心思。
Usually used as predicate, object, attributive; means to use up one's brains.
Examples
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为了解决这个问题，他绞尽脑汁，最终找到了答案。
wèile jiějué zhège wèntí, tā jiǎojìn nǎozhī, zhōngyú zhǎodàole dá'àn
He racked his brains to solve this problem, and finally found the answer.
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设计师绞尽脑汁，才设计出了这款令人惊艳的作品。
shèjìshī jiǎojìn nǎozhī, cái shèjì chūle zhè kuǎn lìng rén jīngyàn de zuòpǐn
The designer racked his brains to design this stunning work of art.