yǐ以zi子zhī之máo矛,,gōng攻zi子zhī之dùn盾
To use someone's own arguments, methods, or resources to counter or refute them; to hoist someone by their own petard.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Warring States period, the great thinker Han Feizi once told a story about a man who sold both spears and shields.
He would boast to people that his spear was the sharpest in the world, capable of piercing anything. A moment later, he would promote his shield, claiming it was the toughest in the world, impenetrable by any weapon.
Someone in the crowd then asked him, 'What if you use your spear to strike your own shield?'
The man was left speechless and had to flee in embarrassment.