中國(guó)成語(yǔ)故事中英對(duì)照 螳臂當(dāng)車(chē)

Once a carter(車(chē)夫) was driving his cart, when a mantis(螳螂) jumped out in front of the cart. Raising its forelegs, it tried to obstruct the passage of the cart. Of course, it was crushed by one of the wheels.

This idiom is used to mean overrating(估計(jì)過(guò)高) oneself and trying to do what is beyond one's ability. The result can be nothing but failure.

春秋時(shí)，衛(wèi)靈公請(qǐng)顏闔為太子之師，顏闔知蒯瞶為人陰險(xiǎn)兇殘，欲改其惡習(xí)，導(dǎo)之正途，但恐遭殺身之禍，而問(wèn)於蘧伯玉。伯玉語(yǔ)喻之曰：“螳螂奮其臂以擋車(chē)輪，其不知否能勝任也，徒取滅亡耳。不可高估本身之力，而為太子之師。若自持己見(jiàn)，必遭太子之嫌。是以務(wù)必小心從事。”顏闔從之，婉拒衛(wèi)靈公之請(qǐng)。

亦作“螳臂擋車(chē)”或作“螳臂當(dāng)轅”。