尾大不掉 wěi dà bù diào

DEFINITIONS

  1. large tail obstructs action (idiom); bottom heavy
  2. fig. rendered ineffective by subordinates

CHARACTERS

尾 wěi
HSK 5
tail, extremity; end, stern
大 dà
HSK 1
big, great, vast, large, high
不 bù
HSK 1
no, not; un-; negative prefix
掉 diào
HSK 4
turn, move; shake, wag; drop down