Idiom
Bull in a china shop
A bull in a china shop is a person who is very clumsy or careless, either with objects or in a delicate situation.
How people use it
People use it for someone who knocks things over, or for someone who handles feelings or sensitive problems without care: He went into the meeting like a bull in a china shop and upset the whole team. The usual form is like a bull in a china shop. China here means fine dishes and porcelain, not the country. It is informal and critical, though often said with a smile about a friend, a child or a pet.
Also said: like a bull in a china shop.
Examples
- My nephew ran through the gift store like a bull in a china shop, and I held my breath.
- Don't be a bull in a china shop when you talk to Grace about her grades; she's upset.
- Our new puppy is a bull in a china shop around the coffee table.
Where it comes from
The phrase pictures a large, heavy animal loose in a shop full of fragile plates and cups. It appears in English in the early 1800s, and no particular incident is known to be behind it. The simple image of size and force among breakable things is all it needs.
Check yourself
1. If someone acts like a bull in a china shop, how do they behave?
Answer: Clumsily or carelessly. The idiom describes someone clumsy or careless around fragile things or feelings.
2. What does china mean in this idiom?
Answer: Fine dishes and porcelain. China here means delicate plates and cups that break easily.
Similar idioms
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