细水长流

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279页（435字）

①比喻节约使用钱物，使常不缺用，例家庭的开销用度应事先拟定计划，并采用细水长流的方式，便能使生活安全无虞。

To avoid having any living difficulties，one's household expenses should be based on economy and good planning so that there is no running short of money．

②一点一滴不间断地做某事，例编辞典是细水长流的工作，不可能毕其功于一役。

To compile a dictionary is a long-term project and one cannot hope to complete it in one go．