cf Wu Zixu 伍子胥, destitute refugee from Chu 楚, busked in Wu town c. 520 BC, then became a powerful politician; to beg while playing the xiao 箫 (mouth organ)
指在街头行乞。也比喻过艰苦的流亡生活。
偏正式；作谓语、定语；含贬义
吴：古国名。原指春秋时楚国的伍子胥逃至吴国，在市上吹箫乞食。比喻在街头行乞。
《史记·范睢蔡泽列传》：“伍子胥橐载而出昭关，夜行昼伏，至于陵水，无以糊其口，膝行蒲伏，稽首肉袒，鼓腹吹箫，乞食于吴市。”