praying mantis

(lit.) a mantis trying to stop a chariot (idiom); (fig.) to overrate oneself and attempt sth impossible

see 螳臂當車|螳臂当车[tang2 bi4 dang1 che1]

see 螳螂捕蟬，黃雀在後|螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后[tang2 lang2 bu3 chan2 , huang2 que4 zai4 hou4]

(lit.) the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the siskin behind (idiom, from Daoist classic Zhuangzi 莊子|庄子[Zhuang1 zi3]); (fig.) to pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger