中國成語故事中英對照 螳臂當車

Once a carter(車夫) 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(估計過高) oneself and trying to do what is beyond one's ability. The result can be nothing but failure.

春秋時，衛(wèi)靈公請顏闔為太子之師，顏闔知蒯瞶為人陰險兇殘，欲改其惡習，導之正途，但恐遭殺身之禍，而問於蘧伯玉。伯玉語喻之曰：“螳螂奮其臂以擋車輪，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，必遭太子之嫌。是以務必小心從事。”顏闔從之，婉拒衛(wèi)靈公之請。

亦作“螳臂擋車”或作“螳臂當轅”。