蚂蚁啃骨头 [- - kěn ɡú tou]plod away at a big job bit by bit; (like) ants gnawing at a bone — a concentration of small machines on a big job; make huge machines with small machine tools:
•¶ 几个小厂用蚂蚁啃骨头的办法造出了大型机件。 A few small factories, using small and simple machines have been able to turn out parts for large machinery.