to cast away

to disregard; to leave aside

skim

to curl one's lip; to twitch one's mouth

to skim froth or foam from the surface of a liquid

lit. there is not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] (idiom); fig. things have not even begun to take shape; no sign of success yet

lit. not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] has been written (idiom); fig. things have not even gotten started yet; nothing tangible has come of one's plans yet