overestimate one's abilities; bite off more than one can chew
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to overestimate one's own strength or abilities; to attempt something beyond one's capability
neutralUsed to describe someone who attempts a task without a realistic assessment of their own capabilities. Often carries a mildly critical or ironic tone.
Tā他
xiǎng想
yī一
gè个
rén人
wán完
chéng成
zhè这
ge个
jù巨
dà大
de的
xiàng项
mù目
，
zhēn真
shì是
bù不
zì自
liàng量
lì力
。
He wants to complete this huge project all by himself; he's really overestimating his abilities.
Tiǎo挑
zhàn战
shì世
jiè界
guàn冠
jūn军
？
Nǐ你
yǒu有
diǎn点
bù不
zì自
liàng量
lì力
le了
。
Challenging the world champion? You're biting off more than you can chew.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Gōng公
sī司
guī规
mó模
hái还
xiǎo小
，
jiù就
xiǎng想
hé和
guó国
jì际
jù巨
tóu头
jìng竞
zhēng争
，
zhè这
chún纯
cuì粹
shì是
bù不
zì自
liàng量
lì力
。
The company is still small, yet it wants to compete with international giants; this is pure overestimation.
Tā他
pī批
píng评
dà大
shī师
de的
zuò作
pǐn品
，
zài在
zhòng众
rén人
kàn看
lái来
shì是
bù不
zì自
liàng量
lì力
de的
xíng行
wéi为
。
In the eyes of everyone, his criticism of the master's work is an act of overestimating himself.