巧妇难为无米之炊

巧妇难为无米之炊 [qiǎo fù nán wéi wú mǐ zhī chuī]

1. ■ Even a clever woman [housewife] cannot cook a meal without rice.; If you have no hand you can't make a fist.; One can't make bricks without straw.; No housewife can cook a meal without a food and vegetables.; The cleverest housewife can't cook a meal without rice.; You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.; You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.; You can't make sth. out of nothing.