huà​hǔ​bù​chéng​fǎn​lèi​gǒu

to fail in a poor attempt at imitation

Senses

画虎不成反类狗/ 畫虎不成反類狗 huà​hǔ​bù​chéng​fǎn​lèi​gǒu to fail in a poor attempt at imitation

Literally "to try to paint a tiger but end up with a dog"; used to describe someone who tries to imitate others but lacks the skill, resulting in a ridiculous and clumsy failure.

References

same_as 画虎不成反类狗/畫虎不成反類狗 画虎不成反类犬/畫虎不成反類犬
same_as 画虎不成反类犬/畫虎不成反類犬 画虎不成反类狗/畫虎不成反類狗
see 画虎类狗/畫虎類狗 画虎不成反类狗/畫虎不成反類狗
synonym 刻鹄类鹜/刻鵠類鶩 画虎不成反类狗/畫虎不成反類狗
abbreviation 画虎不成/畫虎不成 画虎不成反类狗/畫虎不成反類狗