吃回头草

吃回头草

Literally means:

flocks and herds returning to the place they once grazed on

Actually means:

go back to one's starting point; make a circle around

It originally means that flocks and herds returning to the place they once grazed on.

Figuratively it means someone once again favors a particular person, a working place or an object he left or gave up in the past, for instance, re-marry someone or make up with the former friend or lover, or work, study or live in the old place all over again.

According to the traditional concept, such circling-around indicates lacking backbone or abilities. Thus there is an old saying, which says "a good horse never goes back and grazes on its old place".

原指牛羊等又回到曾经吃过草的地方吃草。

比喻重新选择以前离开或放弃的个人、单位或事物。如离婚后又复婚，或和过去的朋友、恋人重新和好，或回到以前呆过的地方工作、学习或生活，等等。

传统思想认为，通常是没有志气，没有本事的人才会走老路，所以有“好马不吃回头草”的说法。