冒天下之大不韪

冒天下之大不韙

màotiānxiàzhīdàbùwěi

idiom #81,584

Meanings

1 to do what everyone in the world considers wrong; to flout universal condemnation
2 to brazenly defy public outrage

Characters

to risk; to brave

(classical possessive) of

Examples

他竟然冒天下之大不韪，公然撕毁合约。

Tā jìngrán màotiānxiàzhīdàbùwěi, gōngrán sīhuǐ héyuē.

He actually flouted universal condemnation by openly tearing up the contract.

发动侵略战争，就是冒天下之大不韪。

Fādòng qīnlüè zhànzhēng, jiùshì màotiānxiàzhīdàbùwěi.

Launching a war of aggression is to brazenly defy the conscience of the world.

Tips

history

Origin in 《左传·隐公十一年》: 犯五不韪而以伐人，其丧师也，不亦宜乎？ — 'to commit the five wrongs and still attack others — no wonder he lost his army.' 韪 (wěi) means 'right' or 'proper.'

Stroke Order

冒 mào

天 tiān

下 xià

之 zhī

大 dà

不 bù

韪 wěi