colossus with feet of clay; giant with clay feet
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
colossus with feet of clay; a seemingly powerful entity that is actually weak and vulnerable
formalFrom the biblical story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2). Used metaphorically for empires, corporations, or powerful figures that appear strong but have critical weaknesses.
Nà那
gè个
dì帝
guó国
kàn看
sì似
qiáng强
dà大
，
qí其
shí实
shì是
gè个
ní泥
zú足
jù巨
rén人
，
bù不
kān堪
yī一
jī击
。
That empire looks powerful, but it is actually a colossus with feet of clay, unable to withstand a single blow.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
de的
cái财
wù务
bào报
biǎo表
zào造
jiǎ假
，
yuán原
lái来
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
ní泥
zú足
jù巨
rén人
。
This company was cooking its books—it turns out it was just a giant with feet of clay.
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Bié别
bèi被
tā他
xià吓
dǎo倒
，
tā他
bù不
guò过
shì是
gè个
ní泥
zú足
jù巨
rén人
bà罢
le了
。
Don't be intimidated by him; he's nothing but a colossus with feet of clay.
Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
xǔ许
duō多
shèng盛
jí极
yī一
shí时
de的
wáng王
cháo朝
zuì最
zhōng终
dōu都
bào暴
lù露
chū出
ní泥
zú足
jù巨
rén人
de的
běn本
zhì质
。
Many dynasties that flourished for a time in history eventually revealed their true nature as colossi with feet of clay.