不攻自破

bùgōngzìpò

idiom #43,497

Meanings

1 to collapse without being attacked (idiom)
2 to fall apart on its own
3 (of a rumor or argument) to be discredited by itself

Characters

on its own; self

to break; collapse

Examples

事实一出，谣言不攻自破。

Shìshí yì chū, yáoyán bùgōngzìpò.

Once the facts came out, the rumor collapsed on its own.

他的论点漏洞百出，不攻自破。

Tā de lùndiǎn lòudòng bǎichū, bùgōngzìpò.

His argument was riddled with holes and fell apart by itself.

Tips

history

Attested in Jin-dynasty 《晋记》: 不攻而自败 and in Tang writings as 不攻而自破. The image is a fort so weak it crumbles without a siege — extended to any claim whose weakness is self-evident.

usage

Subjects are usually abstract: 谣言 (rumors), 论点 (arguments), 谎言 (lies), 假说 (hypotheses). Typical pattern: [evidence] 一出，[claim] 不攻自破. The positive twin: 牢不可破 (unshakeably firm).

Stroke Order

不 bù

攻 gōng

自 zì

破 pò