show off one's skills before an expert; teach fish to swim
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to show off one's insignificant skill before an expert; to teach one's grandmother to suck eggs
neutralUsed to criticize someone for foolishly displaying minor skills in front of a true master, often implying overconfidence or lack of self-awareness. The literal origin involves Lu Ban, a legendary master carpenter from ancient China.
Zài在
shū书
fǎ法
dà大
shī师
miàn面
qián前
tán谈
lùn论
bǐ笔
fǎ法
，
wǒ我
zhè这
bù不
shì是
bān班
mén门
nònɡ弄
fǔ斧
ma嘛
。
Discussing brush techniques in front of a calligraphy master—I'm really showing off before an expert.
Tā他
yī一
gè个
yè业
yú余
gē歌
shǒu手
，
jìnɡ竟
rán然
xiǎnɡ想
ɡěi给
zhuān专
yè业
shēnɡ声
yuè乐
lǎo老
shī师
tí提
jiàn建
yì议
，
zhēn真
shì是
bān班
mén门
nònɡ弄
fǔ斧
。
He's just an amateur singer, yet he dares to give advice to a professional vocal coach—it's truly like wielding an axe at Lu Ban's door.
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Zài在
nǐ你
zhè这
wèi位
biān编
chénɡ程
ɡāo高
shǒu手
miàn面
qián前
xiū修
ɡǎi改
dài代
mǎ码
，
wǒ我
nán难
miǎn免
yǒu有
bān班
mén门
nònɡ弄
fǔ斧
zhī之
xián嫌
。
Modifying code in front of an expert programmer like you, I can't help feeling I'm teaching fish to swim.
Zhè这
piān篇
fū肤
qiǎn浅
de的
pínɡ评
lùn论
fā发
biǎo表
zài在
xué学
shù术
qī期
kān刊
shànɡ上
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
bān班
mén门
nònɡ弄
fǔ斧
。
Publishing this shallow commentary in an academic journal is no different from brandishing an axe before Lu Ban.