不胫而走

Origin and story

Han Shi Wai Zhuan (韓詩外傳), volume 6, tells of Duke Ping of Jin enjoying a river outing and wishing for worthy men to share it. The boatman He Xu observes that pearls from distant waters and jade from mountains reach the ruler despite having no feet, because he values them. Worthy people have feet: if they do not come, perhaps his welcome is less genuine than he thinks.

The duke points to his many retainers, but the boatman distinguishes their number from their usefulness. The later idiom develops the image of traveling without legs into spontaneous circulation, especially news, reputation, or writing spreading without deliberate promotion.