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

show off before an expert; make a fool of self

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
關 guān
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