"Picking cakes on the flat ground" means drawing a circle on the flat ground, and the actors perform in it, just like picking cakes. Have the intention of self-reliance and self-improvement.

"Catch a thief in the opposite direction" means that you have to have a real hard guy in your hand to be worthy of the real knife and gun, otherwise it may not be so easy to catch a thief.

Often used in cross talk stage.

Extended data

Similar sentences include: White Wolf with Empty Gloves.

A white wolf with empty gloves means that a person has gained great returns with little effort (or implied that he doesn't work hard). This is the performance of maximizing the return on investment.

It turns out that "white wolf with empty gloves" is a commendatory term. In ancient China, the white wolf was an auspicious animal, and its appearance was often associated with saints and regime change. So "White Wolf with Empty Gloves" is to reward those monarchs and warriors who can trap the white wolf symbolized by auspicious omen with empty hands.

"White Wolf with Empty Gloves" originated from Mandarin Zhou Yu. According to records, he conquered Dog Rong, got four white wolves and four white deer, and returned home in triumph. The White Wolf with Empty Gloves was born.