画蛇添足

Literal meaning

to ruin something by overdoing it

Story

This page focuses on the modern use of 画蛇添足, not just the old story.

Modern usage

Use 画蛇添足 in study contexts when the situation matches the meaning: to ruin something by overdoing it.

Example

这zhè 个ge 例lì 子zi 可kě 以yǐ 用yòng 画huà 蛇shé 添tiān 足zú 来lái 形xíng 容róng 。 ▶ This example can be described with 画蛇添足.