be like a bull in a china shop

To be aggressive and clumsy in a situation that requires delicacy and care. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea! This is a complex problem, and if you attack it like a bull in a china shop, you will alienate a lot of people. Come on, you can't be like a bull in a china shop in every meeting—remember, tact will get you far in this business.

See also: bull, china, like, shop

like a bull in a china shop

1. adjective Recklessly clumsy or indelicate. My son is always like a bull in a china shop, so I'm worried about taking him to the museum. Surrounding him with valuables does not seem like a wise idea!

2. adverb In a recklessly aggressive and tactless manner. This is a complex problem, and if you go about dealing with it like a bull in a china shop, you will alienate a lot of people.

See also: bull, china, like, shop

like a bull in a china shop

behaving recklessly and clumsily in a place or situation where you are likely to cause damage or injury.

See also: bull, china, like, shop

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

like a ˌbull in a ˈchina shop

very careless or clumsy, especially in a situation where you need to be careful: He was like a bull in a china shop, treading on everyone’s feet and apologizing constantly. ♢ The Prime Minister went into the negotiations like a bull in a china shop and only made the relations between the two countries worse.

See also: bull, china, like, shop

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