- 拖泥带水 tuōnídàishuǐ sloppymessy or indecisive; describes speech, writing, or actions that are wordy, repetitive, or lack efficiency
- 一衣带水 yīyīdàishuǐ separated by a narrow strip of waterDescribes a narrow body of water that acts as a boundary but is easy to cross; used to emphasize geographical proximity between two places separated by water.
- 带水拖泥 dàishuǐtuōní messysloppy and inefficient in work or style; burdened with unnecessary details; dragging through mud and water