关公面前耍大刀 guān gōng miàn qián shuǎ dà dāo

show off before an expert; embarrass oneself

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. lit. to wield the broadsword in the presence of Lord Guan (idiom)
  2. 2. fig. to make a fool of oneself by showing off in front of an expert

Characters

Character Meaning
关 guān HSK 1
to close; to shut; to turn off
公 gōng HSK 2
public; fair; just
面 miàn HSK 1
face; surface; aspect
前 qián HSK 1
front; before; forward
耍 shuǎ HSK 6
to play with; to display (a skill, one's temper etc)
大 dà HSK 1
big; large; great
刀 dāo HSK 4
knife; blade; classifier for knife cuts or stabs