打水漂儿 - Chinese Idiom

打水漂儿

Literally means:

play ducks and drakes

Actually means:

squander

It is a kind of game: a person throws a small slice stonea of stone or tile out just above the water surface. The slice will then skip above the water surface until it sinks.

Metaphorically, it means spending money or efforts without any results or playing loose with money.

一种游戏，用片状的东西（小石片或碎瓦片等）贴着水面扔出去，使它在水面上时出时没地跳跃前进，直至沉入水中。

比喻白费钱财或力气，却没有任何收获，或把钱财白扔了。