望梅止渴
Quenching Thirst with Dreamed Plums
Meaning
Easing thirst by imagining plums — sustaining people through hardship with a vivid hope, or offering comfort that is only imaginary.
Origin story
One summer on the march, Cao Cao’s army lost its way and could find no water. The soldiers were collapsing from thirst. Cao Cao raised his whip and pointed ahead: "Beyond that rise lies a great plum grove — the fruit is sour and sweet, more than enough to quench your thirst!" At the thought of sour plums the soldiers’ mouths watered, and on that borrowed strength they marched until they truly reached water. Told in the Shishuo Xinyu, the tale became the classic example of Cao Cao’s quick wit — "gazing at plums to stop thirst."
Source: Shishuo Xinyu (A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5th c.)
People
Modern examples
- Keeping the team grinding on promises of a bonus is just dreamed plums for real thirst.
- Scrolling vacation photos to survive until the holidays — quenching thirst with imaginary plums.