白蠟,比喻空白;明經(jīng),科舉考試科目之一?!?a href="zb81nn.html" class="tag-link" target="_blank">白蠟明經(jīng)」比喻屢試不第。宋.曾慥《類說.卷四○.稽神異苑.白蠟明經(jīng)》:「張鸑號(hào)青錢學(xué)士,以其萬選萬中。時(shí)有明經(jīng)董萬舉九上不第,號(hào)白蠟明經(jīng),與鸑為對(duì)」