the arm cannot twist the thigh; the weak cannot defeat the strong
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesproverb
the weak cannot contend with the strong
informal用于形容力量、地位悬殊时，较弱的一方无法改变或战胜强大的一方。也常说“胳膊扭不过大腿”。
Wǒ我
zhī知
dào道
zhè这
shì事
bù不
gōng公
píng平
，
dàn但
gē胳
bo膊
nǐng拧
bù不
guo过
dà大
tuǐ腿
，
wǒ我
men们
hái还
shì是
bié别
gào告
le了
。
I know this is unfair, but you can't fight city hall, so we better not sue.
Tā他
xiǎng想
gēn跟
dà大
gōng公
sī司
jìng竞
zhēng争
，
dàn但
zuì最
zhōng终
hái还
shì是
gē胳
bo膊
nǐng拧
bù不
guo过
dà大
tuǐ腿
。
He wanted to compete with the big corporation, but in the end, the little guy couldn't win.
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Zài在
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
shàng上
，
wǒ我
men们
jiù就
shì是
gē胳
bo膊
nǐng拧
bù不
guo过
dà大
tuǐ腿
，
zhǐ只
néng能
tuǒ妥
xié协
。
In this matter, we are the weaker party and have to compromise.