a bull in a china shop

noun phrase

: a person who breaks things or who often makes mistakes or causes damage in situations that require careful thinking or behavior
As a politician, he was a bull in a china shop and often had to apologize for his rough speech.

Examples of a bull in a china shop in a Sentence

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And Frank, a bull in a china shop, drives right to the heart of the matter. — EW.com, 4 Mar. 2025 Trump, by comparison, is a bull in a china shop. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 Being a bull in a china shop is not a good idea anywhere, but for some reason that was the culture. — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026 The agency is acting like a bull in a china shop trying to rearrange the shelves. — Christopher Mohr, Orange County Register, 4 June 2024 But at 6-foot-2 and just over 220 pounds, Dart isn't exactly built like a tank, and therefore, running like a bull in a china shop likely isn't the best modus operandi for him. — Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025 But instead of thoughtful improvements, DOGE has been a bull in a china shop, proving that efficiency done wrong can be far more damaging than inefficiency left alone. — Melanie La Rocca, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025 Whether or not Brooks is an alcoholic who has borrowed from her entire wardrobe is irrelevant; Raffi is now a bull in a china shop, arguing with cameramen, crew, and producers in a misguided attempt to defend his wife. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 16 July 2024 Players who might best fit Babcock’s aggressive style include Dach, who’s a bull in a china shop on the forecheck; Samanski, who is a smart two-way player who can thrive at centre or wing; and Quinn Hutson, who has enough skill for a middle-six role on right wing and plays a robust style. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 24 June 2026

Rhymes for a bull in a china shop

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abulia
a bull in a china shop
abulomania
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Cite this Entry

“A bull in a china shop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20bull%20in%20a%20china%20shop. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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