What does a bull symbolize in China?
“In Chinese culture, a bull symbolizes perseverance, diligence and wealth.
Is bull in a china shop offensive?
If someone is like a bull in a china shop, they are very careless in the way that they move or behave: We told her it was a delicate situation but she went into the meeting like a bull in a china shop.
What does it mean by Bob is like a bull in a china shop today?
: a person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior.
What's another way to say bull in a china shop?
What is another word for like a bull in a china shop?tactlessgracelessuncouthawkwardblunderingbrashbunglingcallouscarelesscrass57 more rows
Meaning
Imagine a bull inside a china shop. What do you think a bull would do inside a shop filled with plates and dishes? You’d probably expect the big, horned animal to be knocking over things, being clumsy, and not having the finesse to navigate the aisles of a shop filled with delicate crockery.
Using The Idiom Properly
The idiom refers to the bull’s lack of finesse and not to a bull’s rage. So, don’t use the phrase to describe someone who’s always angry, or people who are easily provoked to anger. The idiom ‘waving a red flag to a bull’ means ‘to incite or make someone angry,’ so it’s not the same.
Origin Of The Phrase
Apparently, the idiom, ‘bull in the china shop’ was already in use in the 1800s. ‘A Bull in a China Shop’ was listed as a title of a song in a pamphlet printed by M. Angus and Son, circa 1800, in Newcastle upon Tyne in England.
Similar Idioms
French, German, and a few other European languages have a similar idiom. Curiously, it wasn’t the bull that got into the china or porcelain shop, but the elephant. The animal may be different, but the meaning is the same.
Final Thoughts
Understanding idioms is essential in helping you to be fluent in the language. Some can be confusing, but some can be easy to understand, like the idiom ‘bull in a china shop.’ The discussion in this article about its origin and proper usage can help you grasp the meaning of the phrase better, as well as a deeper appreciation of the language.
When was the phrase "bull in china shop" first used?
This vividly descriptive phrase is presumed to have been used sometime before the year 1834, when it was first seen in print in a novel called Jacob Faithful by Frederick Marryat.
What does "bull in a china shop" mean?
Bull in a China Shop. The phrase refers to a very clumsy creature in a delicate situation. Example of use: “Danny’s like a bull in a china shop – don’t let him near those sculptures.”.
What is the idiom "like a bull in a china shop"?
Another form this idiom often takes is “like a bull in a china shop.” In the example below, this usage can be seen when two coworkers discuss why their department head should not attend a certain meeting.
What does "as awkward as a bull in a china shop" mean?
As awkward as a bull in a china shop is an idiom that is used to describe people who, whether intentionally or unintentionally, do not act cautiously (in their manner) or gracefully (with their physical presence) in situations where they should.
Where did the idiom "awkward as a bull" come from?
Origin of As Awkward As A Bull In A China Shop. The 1812 London Review and Literary Journal is the first source to have a written record of the idiom, which can be found in the excerpt below.
be like a bull in a china shop
To be aggressive and clumsy in a situation that requires delicacy and care. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea! This is a complex problem, and if you attack it like a bull in a china shop, you will alienate a lot of people.
like a bull in a china shop
1. adjective Recklessly clumsy or indelicate. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea!
like a bull in a china shop
behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where you are likely to cause damage or injury.
like a ˌbull in a ˈchina shop
very careless or clumsy, especially in a situation where you need to be careful: He was like a bull in a china shop, treading on everyone’s feet and apologizing constantly. ♢ The Prime Minister went into the negotiations like a bull in a china shop and only made the relations between the two countries worse.
What does "like a bull in a china shop" mean?
like a bull in a china shop. 1. adjective Recklessly clumsy or indelicate. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea! 2. adverb In a recklessly aggressive and tactless manner.
What to be like in a candy store?
be like a deer caught in the headlights. be like a dog with a bone. be like a dog with two tails. be like a fish out of water. be like a kid in a candy store. be like a rabbit caught in the headlights. be like a red flag to a bull.
Meaning
‘Bull in A China Shop’ in A Sentence
- ‘Bull in a china shop’ describes a person who’s ungainly and is liable to cause an accident. It can also describe a socially inept person who’ll likely cause disruption and embarrassment in a social setting. Below are a few examples of how this idiomatic expression is used: 1. Seriously, you need to watch those kids; they’re like bulls in a china shopin there. 2. If she breaks another glass, get h…
Using The Idiom Properly
- The idiom refers to the bull’s lack of finesse and not to a bull’s rage. So, don’t use the phrase to describe someone who’s always angry, or people who are easily provoked to anger. The idiom ‘waving a red flag to a bull’ means ‘to incite or make someone angry,’ so it’s not the same. Interestingly enough, several years ago the TV show ‘MythBusters’ put ‘bull in a china shop’ to th…
Origin of The Phrase
- Apparently, the idiom, ‘bull in the china shop’ was already in use in the 1800s. ‘A Bull in a China Shop’ was listed as a title of a song in a pamphlet printed by M. Angus and Son, circa 1800, in Newcastle upon Tyne in England. Its lyrics, which used the idiom ‘A bull in a china shop’ in its current meaning, were also published in a collection of c...
Similar Idioms
- French, German, and a few other European languages have a similar idiom. Curiously, it wasn’t the bull that got into the china or porcelain shop, but the elephant. The animal may be different, but the meaning is the same. The equivalent words to ‘bull in a china shop’ are heavy-handed, all thumbs, butter-fingered, klutz, ham-fisted, and others to denote physical clumsiness. For the oth…
Idioms That Mean The Opposite
- ‘Bull in a china shop’ refers to a person’s awkwardness physically and in personality. The opposite idioms would be ‘graceful as a swan’ or ‘poetry in motion.’ Both describe a person’s finesse. Here are a few examples: 1. The ballerina moves as graceful as a swan,even if she’s just reaching for a glass of water. 2. Did you see how Number 23 went for the layup? That was pure poetry in motio…
Final Thoughts
- Understanding idioms is essential in helping you to be fluent in the language. Some can be confusing, but some can be easy to understand, like the idiom ‘bull in a china shop.’ The discussion in this article about its origin and proper usage can help you grasp the meaning of the phrase better, as well as a deeper appreciation of the language.