try to be clever but end up making a blunder
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
try to be clever but end up making a blunder; have one's scheme backfire
Used when someone's over-ambitious or cunning plan leads to an embarrassing or worse outcome. Often implies a touch of irony or self-inflicted trouble.
Tā他
xiǎng想
xiū修
hǎo好
shǒu手
biǎo表
，
jié结
guǒ果
nòng弄
qiǎo巧
chéng成
zhuō拙
，
chè彻
dǐ底
nòng弄
huài坏
le了
。
He tried to fix the watch, but he ended up making it worse.
Tā她
xiǎng想
gěi给
lǎo老
bǎn板
yī一
gè个
jīng惊
xǐ喜
，
bù不
liào料
nòng弄
qiǎo巧
chéng成
zhuō拙
，
gǎo搞
zá砸
le了
zhòng重
yào要
de的
huì会
yì议
。
She wanted to surprise her boss, but her scheme backfired and ruined an important meeting.
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Zài在
tán谈
pàn判
zhōng中
guò过
dù度
shī施
yā压
yǒu有
shí时
huì会
nòng弄
qiǎo巧
chéng成
zhuō拙
，
dǎo导
zhì致
hé合
zuò作
pò破
liè裂
。
Applying excessive pressure in negotiations can sometimes backfire, leading to a breakdown in cooperation.
Tā他
běn本
xiǎng想
duō多
shuō说
jǐ几
jù句
hǎo好
huà话
，
jié结
guǒ果
nòng弄
qiǎo巧
chéng成
zhuō拙
，
xiǎn显
dé得
fēi非
cháng常
xū虚
wěi伪
。
He wanted to say a few more nice words, but he ended up making himself look insincere.