How do you use "Bull in a china shop" in a sentence?

He's like a bull in a china shop. Don't send him—he's a bull in a china shop. She went through the negotiations like a bull in a china shop.

Bull in a china shop

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

Practice this with flashcards, quizzes & audio on WordLoci →

Meaning: A clumsy person in a delicate situation; someone causing accidental damage.

在微妙情况下笨拙的人；造成意外损害的人。

Una persona torpe en una situación delicada; alguien que causa daño accidentalmente.

繊細な状況での不器用な人；偶発的な損害を引き起こす人。

섬세한 상황에서의 덜렁대는 사람; 실수로 피해를 주는 사람.

A 'bull in a china shop' is someone who behaves clumsily in a situation requiring delicacy—causing damage through lack of finesse. Can describe physical or social clumsiness.

'Bull in a china shop'（瓷器店里的公牛）是在需要细腻处理的情况下表现笨拙的人——因缺乏技巧而造成损害。可以形容身体上或社交上的笨拙。

Un 'toro en una tienda de porcelana' es alguien que se comporta torpemente en una situación que requiere delicadeza—causando daño por falta de finura. Puede describir torpeza física o social.

「bull in a china shop」（陶器店の牛）は、繊細さが必要な状況で不器用に振る舞う人—繊細さの欠如で損害を引き起こす。物理的または社会的な不器用さを表すことができます。

'Bull in a china shop'은 섬세함이 필요한 상황에서 거칠게 행동하는 사람—섬세함 부족으로 피해를 입히는 사람이다. 물리적인 서투름이나 사회적인 무신경함을 모두 묘사할 수 있다.

Examples

He's like a bull in a china shop.
他像瓷器店里的公牛一样笨拙
Es como un elefante en una cacharrería
彼は場所をわきまえない
그는 도자기 가게에 들어간 황소 같아.
Don't send him—he's a bull in a china shop.
别让他去——他太莽撞了
No lo envíes—es muy torpe
彼を行かせないで—不器用だから
그를 보내지 마—너무 덜렁대니까.
She went through the negotiations like a bull in a china shop.
她在谈判中横冲直撞
Fue por las negociaciones como un elefante en una cacharrería
彼女は交渉を強引に進めた
그녀는 협상을 무모하게 밀어붙였다.

Pronunciation

/bʊl ɪn ə ˈtʃaɪnə ʃɒp/

Usage Guide

Context: clumsiness, delicacy, mistakes

Tone: critical, humorous

✓ Do Say

Bull in a china shop
笨手笨脚的人
Un elefante en una cacharrería
繊細な場面での不器用な人
도자기 가게에 들어간 황소
Like a bull in a china shop
像闯进瓷器店的公牛一样
Como un elefante en una cacharrería
陶器店の牛のように不器用だ
도자기 가게의 황소처럼 덜렁대다

Common Mistakes

Can be physical or metaphorical clumsiness

Origin & History

First recorded in the early 19th century. The image of a large bull crashing through delicate porcelain perfectly captures destructive clumsiness. Used for physical or metaphorical situations.

Etymology: Vivid image of destruction through clumsiness

First recorded: Early 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal expression

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Bull in a china shopLike a bull in a china shop