overestimate one's strength; kick against the pricks
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to overestimate one's strength and attempt the impossible; to kick against the pricks
literaryDerived from Zhuangzi (《庄子·人间世》): '汝不知夫螳螂乎，怒其臂以当车辙，不知其不胜任也.' Literally describes a mantis trying to stop a chariot with its forelegs. Often implies futile resistance against overwhelming force. Also written as 螳臂挡车 (táng bì dǎng chē).
Tā他
shì试
tú图
yòng用
yī一
jiā家
xiǎo小
gōng公
sī司
duì对
kàng抗
zhěng整
gè个
háng行
yè业
jù巨
tóu头
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
。
He tried to fight the entire industry giant with a small company, which is simply like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Miàn面
duì对
lì历
shǐ史
cháo潮
liú流
，
rèn任
hé何
zǔ阻
dǎng挡
dōu都
shì是
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
。
Faced with the tide of history, any obstruction is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
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Bù不
yào要
táng螳
bì臂
dāng当
chē车
，
shí识
shí时
wù务
zhě者
wéi为
jùn俊
jié杰
。
Don't kick against the pricks; the one who knows the times is a true hero.