鲁班门前弄大斧
lǔ​bān​mén​qián​nòng​dà​fǔ

to show off before an expert

  1. 鲁班 魯班 lǔ​bān
    Lu Ban
    Legendary master craftsman and architect of the Spring and Autumn Period who is honored as the patron god of Chinese carpenters.
  2. 门前 門前 mén​qián nounlocative
    doorfront
    the area in front of a door, gate, or house
  3. 弄 nòng verbadjective
    to play with
    to play with; to toy with; to mess with; to show off or flaunt
  4. 大斧 dà​fǔ
    broadax
    a large axe used for chopping wood or as a heavy weapon