出处：按学科分类—语言、文字 中国对外翻译出版公司《汉英成语词典》第23页（222字）
形容大旱时遍地农作物枯死，例那年华北平原大旱，赤地千里，人民啼饥号寒，苦不堪言。
The drought which struck North China some years ago brought utter desolation to the land．Hunger and cold were the order of the day．