不攻自破

bùgōng-zìpò

idiom #43,497

Meanings

1 to collapse without being attacked
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

HSK 7-9

事实一出，谣言不攻自破。

Shìshí yì chū, yáoyán bùgōng-zìpò.

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

HSK 7-9

他的论点漏洞百出，不攻自破。

Tā de lùndiǎn lòudòng-bǎichū, bùgōng-zìpò.

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

Tips

history

Attested in the Jin-dynasty 《晋记》 as 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). 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