to live a life of poverty and hard work; literally wearing one's coat inside out while carrying firewood

那些反裘负刍的贫苦百姓，生活得十分艰辛。

to act stupidly or irrationally, often by prioritizing trivial matters over essential ones

这种本末倒置的做法无异于反裘负刍，实在是愚不可及。