基本解释
拼音：zhù mù lòu bīng
注音：ㄓㄨˋㄇㄨˋㄌㄡˋㄅㄧㄥ
解释：指约束树木（使其按人为的形态生长），刻镂冰塊（使其成某种精致的工艺品）。比喻经办毫无成效的事情。
出处：宋·叶廷珪《海录碎事·人事中》：“卖浆贩麦，利辄失时，铸木镂冰，初无成日。”
单字解释：
铸
木
镂
冰
英语解释
It refers to restraining trees (making them grow in an artificial form) and carving ice blocks (making them into some exquisite handicraft). It's a metaphor for dealing with something that doesn't work.
