an ant trying to topple a giant tree; to overestimate one's strength
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to be like an ant trying to shake a huge tree; to attempt the impossible due to gross overestimation of one's strength
literaryUsed to criticize or mock someone for undertaking a task far beyond their capability. It implies arrogance and foolishness. Often used in literary or formal contexts.
Tā他
xiǎng想
kào靠
yī一
jǐ己
zhī之
lì力
gǎi改
biàn变
zhěng整
gè个
tǐ体
zhì制
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
pí蚍
fú蜉
hàn撼
dà大
shù树
。
Trying to change the entire system by himself is like an ant trying to shake a huge tree.
Zhè这
diǎn点
zī资
jīn金
jiù就
xiǎng想
tiǎo挑
zhàn战
háng行
yè业
jù巨
tóu头
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
pí蚍
fú蜉
hàn撼
dà大
shù树
。
Challenging the industry giant with such little capital is no different from an ant trying to topple a giant tree.
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Lì历
shǐ史
shàng上
yǐ以
ruò弱
shèng胜
qiáng强
de的
zhàn战
lì例
bù不
shǎo少
，
dàn但
zhè这
chǎng场
shí实
lì力
xuán悬
shū殊
de的
jiào较
liàng量
，
gèng更
xiàng像
shì是
pí蚍
fú蜉
hàn撼
dà大
shù树
。
While history has many examples of the weak defeating the strong, this extremely mismatched contest looks more like an ant trying to shake a huge tree.