成語 螳臂擋車 英文翻譯

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，婉拒衛靈公之請。

亦作“螳臂擋車”或作“螳臂當轅”