lit. not even the first stroke of the character 八[ba1] has been written (idiom)
fig. things have not even gotten started yet; nothing tangible has come of one's plans yet
Definitions (Wiktionary)
phrase, idiomatic
nothing tangible in sight; things have not even begun to take shape; there's not the slightest sign of success yet (syn.) 八字还没有一撇, 茫無頭緒, 不知端倪, 十划都未有一撇, 八字沒一撇, 八字没一撇, 十劃都未有一撇, 眉目不清, 八字還沒有一撇, 茫无头绪