📖 Meaning
This idiom literally means drawing feet on a snake. It metaphorically describes doing superfluous work that not only fails to help but actually harms an already-complete task. It warns against adding unnecessary elements that ruin what was already done well.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom originates from the 'Zhan Guo Ce' (Strategies of the Warring States), specifically the 'Qi Ce II' chapter, set during the Warring States period. In the state of Chu, a man who held a sacrificial ceremony rewarded his retainers with a goblet of wine. Since one goblet was insufficient for several people, the retainers agreed to draw snakes on the ground, and the first to finish would drink the wine. One retainer completed his snake first and, holding the goblet, arrogantly began adding feet to his snake, boasting that he could do so. Before he finished, another retainer completed his snake, snatched the goblet, and declared that snakes inherently have no feet, so the first man's addition was meaningless. Thus the over-confident retainer lost the wine he had nearly won.
💡 Example Usage
方案已经完善，再添这些细节无异于为蛇画足。
The plan is already perfect; adding these details would be like drawing feet on a snake.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 为蛇画足
- Pinyin: wéi shé huà zú
- Literal Translation: for, snake, draw, feet
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4