東漢末,劉備三次往隆中(山名,在今湖北襄陽)聘請隱居于草廬的諸葛亮出來幫助打天下。后用來指誠心誠意再三邀請或訪問repeatedly request somebody to take up a responsible post;call on a famous scholar repeadedly to solicit his help;make three calls at a thatshed cottage and request the owner to take up a responsible post
