Question of the Day #1047

Labour plans to abolish private schools 'like a bull in a china shop' for charity law

From the headline of this article at the Third Sector.

  上記の文で、a bull in a china shopの意味は？
In the sentence above, what does "a bull in a china shop" mean?

  答えは、コメントに書いてください。
Write your answer in the Comments.

明日、ここに答えを書きます。
I will add the answer and other remarks here tomorrow.

 

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解答

意味：
英辞郎によると、

1. がさつな言動をする
2. 非常に不器用な［ぎこちない・不格好な］

すなわち、ボーンチャイナの店で雄牛が暴れたらどうなるかを想像していただくといいでしょう。

 

Answer

According to Merriam-Webster:

a person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior

 

Examples

• As a politician, he was a bull in a china shop and often had to apologize for his rough speech.
• We told her it was a delicate situation but she went into the meeting like a bull in a china shop.
• Sometimes a bull in a china shop is a good thing. The Guardian (2015)
• He always had ability but we had to train his mind as he was like a bull in a china shop. The Sun (2014)
• While Musk’s disruptive approach wreaks havoc and drives advertisers away like a bull in a china shop, Yaccarino has been left to pick up the pieces. —Bykylie Robison, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023

   

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