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Home / Idiom / 画蛇添足

lit. draw legs on a snake (idiom); fig. to ruin the effect by adding sth superfluous · to overdo it

画蛇添足
huà shé tiān zú
h+uà·4th tonesh+é·2nd tonet+iān·1st tonez+ú·2nd tone
IdiomHSK 7-9
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Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
to work to no avail (idiom)徒劳无功tú láo wú gōngto do more than is required (idiom); superfluous · gilding the lily多此一举duō cǐ yī jǔsuperfluous · unnecessary · surplus多余duō yúto produce the opposite of the desired result适得其反shì dé qí fǎnto overreach oneself · to try to be clever and end up with egg on one's face弄巧成拙nòng qiǎo chéng zhuōto transform gold into base metal (idiom); fig. to edit sb else's beautiful prose and ruin it点金成铁diǎn jīn chéng tiě
Antonyms
to paint a dragon and dot in the eyes (idiom); fig. to add the vital finishing touch · the crucial point that brings the subject to life · a few words to clinch the point画龙点睛huà lóng diǎn jīngit's just perfect · it's just right恰到好处qià dào hǎo chù(idiom) appropriate · apt · just right恰如其分qià rú qí fèn
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