中式英語之鑑:以卵擊石

353. 這農民還上訴，簡直是以卵擊石。

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[誤] Lodging an appeal, the farmer is no less than hurling an egg against a rock.

[正] Lodging an appeal, the farmer is no less than kicking against the pricks.

注：prick 指“（趕牲畜用的）刺棒”。牲畜捱了打，氣得踢那根用來打它的刺棒，這不是明顯的自討苦吃嗎？kick against the pricks 來自《聖經》故事，可算是歷史悠久，而且與我們的“以卵擊石”有異曲同工之妙。