瘦死的骆驼比马大

瘦死的骆驼比马大

Literally means:

a starved camel is bigger than a horse

Actually means:

a bankrupt millionaire is more well-off than the average

A grown-up camel is surely bigger than a horse. This is still true even if it is starved or extremely skinny.

The phrase metaphorically means that a even wealthy person is richer than average even if he goes bankrupt, or that a talented person is more capable than average even if he is in adversity. It is often used, with a humoristic connotation, to warn people not to look down upon those who are bankrupt or in adversity.

骆驼的个头本来就比马高大，即使瘦死了，也照样比马大。

比喻有钱有势的人，实力雄厚，就是失去了势力或者破产了，也比一般的人强多了。也比喻有本事的人即使受到挫折，也比普通的人强。多用来表示不要小看那些破产、受挫折的人。含有诙谐的意味。