To make a poor imitation; to attempt to emulate something grand or admirable but end up with something inferior, awkward, or even ridiculous due to lack of ability or skill.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Story:
During the early Eastern Han Dynasty, General Ma Yuan, also known as Fubo General, was very strict in educating his nephews and younger relatives, hoping they would grow into useful talents.
He particularly disliked his nephews Ma Yan and Ma Dun engaging in gossip and slandering others behind their backs. He wrote a letter to them, titled "An Admonition to My Nephews Yan and Dun," in which he urged them to learn from and emulate virtuous individuals like Du Jiliang and Long Bogao.
He warned them that if they failed to follow these good examples, they would be like someone who attempts to draw a magnificent tiger but, due to incompetence, only manages to produce something that looks like a dog, meaning their imitation would be a complete failure and make them look foolish.