小 (small) 貪 (desire) 大 (big) 失 (loss)A la "penny-wise, pound-foolish", this is somewhat close to the feeling you have when you get a parking ticket after trying to save a few quarters. A student risks 小貪大失 when he fails to resist a party night before an all-important exam.
Like contestants on "Deal or No Deal", people sometimes take a seemingly fair gamble, and sometimes, they win. The prize may not be theirs to begin with, but still, it's heartbreaking to watch someone lose everything, even when you have no initial sympathy for their irrational misjudgment.
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