zhǐ​shàng​tán​bīng

armchair strategist

Senses

纸上谈兵/ 紙上談兵 zhǐ​shàng​tán​bīng armchair strategist

lit. discussing military tactics on paper; used to describe theoretical talk that is impractical or useless in reality; idle theorizing; alludes to Zhao Kuo of the Warring States period, whose theoretical knowledge of military strategy led to the disastrous defeat of the Zhao army at the Battle of Changping

References

synonym 书生之见/書生之見 纸上谈兵/紙上談兵
synonym 空言无补/空言無補 纸上谈兵/紙上談兵