越俎代庖 yuè zǔ dài páo

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to go beyond the sacrificial altar and take over the kitchen (idiom); fig. to exceed one's place and meddle in other people's affairs
  2. to take matters into one's own hands

CHARACTERS

越 yuè exceed, go beyond; the more ...
俎 zǔ chopping board or block; painted
代 dài replace, replacement (of person or generation); era, generation
庖 páo kitchen; cooking, cuisine