鹹魚返生 [咸鱼－－]

Jyutping haam4 jyu2 faan1 saang1
Pinyin xián yú fǎn shēng

Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 語句
    喺​遭遇​挫折​或者​失敗​之​後​，​意外​噉​突破​或者​成功​返​（​注意​：​雖然​「​鹹​魚​」​可以​解屍體​，​但​係​「​鹹​魚翻生​」​唔​會​用​嚟​講死​唔​去​、​執返​條命​呢​個​意思​，​唔​同​「​死過​翻生​」​。​）
    to have an unexpected success after an apparent failure; literally "salted fish reviving" (Note: The phrase is never used to describe close-death encounters; 死過翻生is used instead.)
  2. 參看
    鹹魚翻生、鹹魚翻身
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. verb, Cantonese
    to be successful when it seems one would absolutely be a failure; to become a changed man; the underdog achieves success
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    咸鱼返生
    鹹魚返生
    haam4 jyu2 faan1 saang1
    • to bounce back; literally, some salted fish or a dead man revives