馬失前蹄 mǎ shī qián tí

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. the horse loses its front hooves
  2. fig. sudden failure through miscalculation or inattentiveness

CHARACTERS

馬 mǎ horse; surname; KangXi radical 187
失 shī lose; make mistake, neglect
前 qián in front, forward; preceding
蹄 tí hoof; leg of pork; little witch