Chinese idiom · 成语
螳臂当车
Meaning
A mantis’s arm blocking a cart; to overestimate one’s strength against overwhelming odds.
Character by character
螳mantis
臂arm
当block, face
车cart
Origin and story
From Zhuangzi (Zhuāng zǐ). A mantis tried to stop a cart with its arms, symbolizing futile resistance.