曲线救国

(of sb who ostensibly collaborated with the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese war of 1937-1945) to secretly work for the Nationalists or against the Communists

surname Qu

bent / crooked / wrong

tune / song / CL:支[zhi1]

variant of 麴|曲[qu1]

yeast / Aspergillus (includes many common molds) / Taiwan pr. [qu2]

curve / curved line / indirect / in a roundabout way

variant of 線|线[xian4]

thread / string / wire / line / CL:條|条[tiao2],股[gu3],根[gen1] / (after a number) tier (unofficial ranking of a Chinese city)

variant of 救[jiu4]

to save / to assist / to rescue

to save the nation

surname Guo

country / nation / state / national / CL:個|个[ge4]