What is the origin of the proverbial phrase, "Drink the Northwestern winds"? I know of a Chinese proverb that warns against something along the lines of idleness. Translated literally into English, it would be something along the lines of "Drink the Northwestern winds."

What is the origin of the proverbial phrase? And what is so peculiar about the Northwestern winds of China that would have inspired this proverb?
喝西北风，originally as 吸风, from 《庄子·逍遥游》:


  藐姑射之山，有神人居焉……不食五谷，吸风饮露。


Its original meaning is to live with just breathing the air, not eating or drinking anything else. It's a state in Tao.

Nowadays, in oral Chinese, 喝西北风 usually means having nothing to eat because of poverty. For example:


  他工作要是丢了，全家都得去喝西北风。