削足适履 xuē zú shì lǚ

DEFINITIONS

  1. to cut the feet to fit the shoes (idiom); to force sth to fit (as to a Procrustean bed)
  2. impractical or inelegant solution

CHARACTERS

削 xuē
HSK 6
scrape off, pare, trim
足 zú
HSK 2
foot; attain, satisfy, enough
适 shì
HSK 4
go, reach; appropriate, suitable
履 lǚ
HSK 6
footwear, shoes; walk on, tread