catch sparrows and dig rats for food—make every effort to raise funds ? 當(dāng)時(shí)的政府～，籌措資金也未能修成一條鐵路。The then government tried by hook or by crook to raise funds,but failed to build a single railway.
羅雀掘鼠luo que jue shu
spread nets for sparrows and dig holes for rats as food in times of starvation
羅雀掘鼠luó què jué shǔ
用網(wǎng)捕麻雀，挖掘老鼠洞找糧食。比喻想盡辦法籌措錢財(cái)。spread a net for sparrows and dig for rats, make every effort to raise funds, try very hard to scrape money together