a bull in a china shop

Someone who is aggressively reckless and clumsy in a situation that requires delicacy and care. My son can be a bit of 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. You can't just go into every meeting like a bull in a china shop—remember, tact will get you far in this business.

See also: bull, china, shop

*bull in a china shop

Prov. a very clumsy creature in a delicate situation. (*Typically: as awkward as ~; like ~.) I never know what to say at a funeral. I feel like a bull in a china shop, trampling on feelings without even meaning to. Lester felt like a bull in a china shop; reaching for an orange, he made several elaborate pyramids of fruit tumble down.

See also: bull, china, shop

bull in a china shop

An extremely clumsy person, as in Her living room, with its delicate furniture and knickknacks, made him feel like a bull in a china shop . The precise origin for this term has been lost; it was first recorded in Frederick Marryat's novel, Jacob Faithful (1834).

See also: bull, china, shop

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

bull in a china shop

Clumsily destructive. An early written example of the expression appeared in Frederick Marryat's 1834 novel, Jacob Faithful , although the image of a bull wrecking havoc as he wandered among tables and shelves of fine porcelain can be traced a century earlier. The expression can also be found in several European languages, although the animal in question is an elephant. In 1940, an American press agent led a bull through a New York City china shop as a publicity stunt. The bull didn't break anything, but a bystander trying to avoid the bull backed into a table and caused the damage.

See also: bull, china, shop

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References in periodicals archive

Gin Mare's bottomless Mediterranean hemed gin brunch is returning to Bull In a China Shop, Shoreditch, on aturday, September 14.

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DONALD Trump's presence at the G7 summit in Canada is about as welcome as a bull in a china shop.

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We take a few detours AaAeAeAu thereAaAeAeAEs a brilliant dance competition, an unorth running of the bulls and a wonderful interpretation of a bull in a china shop.

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He charges round like a bull in a china shop. This infuriates everyone as he has to get used to what it is like staying on a farm.

Morpurgo, Michael: Mini Kid

Another asserted that the 'Four Minutes' hit maker is as culturally sensitive as a bull in a china shop and puts her foot in her mouth constantly.

Madonna slammed for describing leafy vegetable kale as 'gay'

The first dog took no notice of me but the Rottweiller charged at me like the proverbial "bull in a china shop."

Scary encounter with large dogs; FEEDBACK

IT was noted several Tory sup-porters and, indeed, politicians blundered in like the proverbial 'bull in a china shop' to condemn Birmingham City Council over the decision not to lower the flags in response to the death of Margaret Thatcher.

IT was noted several Tory [...]; VIEWS

He is a bull in a China shop, a political novice who if he has his way ( and that is just possible) will destroy the delicate equalibrium ( sic) within the state ( Bengal) Congress party ..." The above assessment was arrived at by two American diplomats who had lunch with Nath in Calcutta in 1976 and describe him as a businessman and a confidant of Sanjay Gandhi.

US saw Nath as ' brash & novice'

If Cameron does it like a bull in a china shop we risk creating a lot of ferrets and very few rabbits.

Back to the grim reality; Yousay IN YOUR OPINION..

If Cameron does it like a bull in a china shop,we risk creating a lot of ferrets and very few rabbits.

Back to reality; You Say Email:letters@liverpoolecho.co.uk

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the West against behaving "like a bull in a china shop", saying Syrians themselves should be allowed to decide their own fate.

Keep off Syria, Putin warns

It should not be a bull in a china shop money saving exercise.

Compassionate

Last night, an eye-witness said: "It was lucky he didn't keep going into Caithness Glass because that would have been like the classic bull in a china shop."

Raging bulls smash cars

Koolhaas' unexpected gatecrashing had a slightly bull in a china shop character.

Letter from St. Louis

Now Herefordshire is being hit by feverish buying as locals desperately search for the last bull in a china shop.

Mad search for Doulton bull in a china shop