Over the weekend, I asked my daughter if she’d picked up any Chinese from my daily posts. She replied, “No, but I read your articles.” This made me wonder if my Chinese inputs were having any impact—until I found myself shouting at the YMCA pool today: "站着茅坑不拉屎" (zhànzhe máokēng bù lā shǐ). I have a feeling my daughter might enjoy learning this one.
"站着茅坑不拉屎" is a vivid Chinese idiom that literally means "occupying the latrine pit without pooping." It’s used to describe someone who occupies a space or resource without actually using it, effectively blocking others from doing so. The English expression “dog in the manger” captures a similar idea.
I used this phrase when I spotted two ladies standing in one lane at the crowded pool, chatting instead of swimming. With all the lanes full, I couldn’t help but feel they were wasting space! I did make sure no Chinese speakers were around before I said it, though.
This idiom might also be applied to President Joe Biden, by critics who feel he’s occupying a crucial position without delivering the bold steps they hoped for. They might argue that his administration has, at times, been too cautious on big issues like climate change, healthcare reform, immigration reforms, and student loan debt.
Similarly, if President-elect Trump falls short on delivering his campaign promises—particularly those tied to "Make America Great Again" (MAGA)—voters might use the same expression. This would reflect the frustration of supporters who feel he’s occupying the presidential office without taking the bold actions he promised, especially around cleaning the swamp and reshoring manufacturing jobs. In this case, the phrase humorously captures the sense of wasted potential and unfulfilled expectations, especially for those who trusted him to bring real change on these key promises. And it might just turn out to be accurate in another four years, when the next election rolls around!