to dry up or run dry, typically referring to rivers, lakes, or ponds

Literally means draining a pond to catch all the fish; used to describe exhausting one's resources without any thought for the future. Similar to the English expression "kill the goose that lays the golden eggs".

to dry up or become waterless; used to describe rivers, wells, or lakes that have run out of water

Literally "a fish in a dried-out wheel rut"; used to describe someone in dire straits who needs immediate help.

to become dried up or exhausted; commonly used to describe bodies of water like pools or rivers during a drought

a person or thing in a dire situation who is in urgent need of help; literally, a fish in a dry rut

(literary) person in a desperate situation who is in urgent need of help; someone in dire poverty. This is a shorter form of the expression [[涸辙之鲋|涸轍之鮒|he2 zhe2 zhi1 fu4]].

(idiom) to assist one another with whatever small resources are available when in a desperate situation; refers to fish moistening each other with spit in a dry rut