too unwieldy to control; the tail wagging the dog
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
(of an organization) too large, bloated, or unwieldy to be effectively controlled; subordinates too strong for superiors to command
formalLiterally 'the tail is too big to wag' (掉: to shake/wag). Originating from historical political commentary, this idiom describes situations where lower-level departments or regional powers become so strong that central authority cannot effectively govern them, or where an organization has grown so bloated that it cannot function efficiently.
Zhè这
gè个
guān官
liáo僚
jī机
gòu构
wěi尾
dà大
bù不
diào掉
，
gǎi改
gé革
hěn很
nán难
tuī推
jìn进
。
This bureaucratic apparatus has become too unwieldy to control, making reforms difficult to push through.
Dì地
fāng方
shì势
lì力
wěi尾
dà大
bù不
diào掉
，
zhōng中
yāng央
zhèng政
lìng令
nán难
yǐ以
guàn贯
chè彻
。
Local powers have grown too strong to be restrained, making it difficult for central government decrees to be implemented.
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Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
bù部
mén门
tài太
duō多
，
xíng形
chéng成
wěi尾
dà大
bù不
diào掉
de的
jú局
miàn面
。
This company has too many departments, creating a situation where the organization is too bloated to manage effectively.