《三国志·吴书·周瑜鲁肃吕蒙传》
现在子太的性命朝不保夕，却苦等毫无希望的救援，就像牛脚印坑中积水里的鱼，还希望仰赖用江、汉的水，其无所依赖也是很明了的事。
今子太以旦夕之命，待不可望之救，犹牛蹄中鱼，冀赖江汉，其不可恃亦明矣。
Zi Tai's fate is uncertain now, but he is desperately waiting for help that is unlikely to arrive. This is like the fish in a cow-hoof-shaped pit that awaits the arrival of water from the Yangtze or Han Rivers. That he has nothing to rely on is obvious.