yīn​xiǎo​shī​dà

penny wise and pound foolish

Senses

因小失大 yīn​xiǎo​shī​dà penny wise and pound foolish

to save a little only to lose a lot; to sacrifice large gains for minor ones or lose a major opportunity by focusing on small matters

References

see 惜指失掌/惜指失掌 因小失大/因小失大
synonym 掘室求鼠/掘室求鼠 因小失大/因小失大