杯弓蛇影 bēi gōng shé yǐng — mistaking the bow's reflection in the cup for a snake — imaginary fears

杯弓蛇影
bēi gōng shé yǐng

Characters: 杯 · 弓 · 蛇 · 影

Definitions

  1. mistaking the bow's reflection in the cup for a snake — imaginary fears

More definitions

CC-CEDICT

  1. lit. to see a bow reflected in a cup as a snake (idiom)
  2. fig. unnecessary suspicions
  3. overly fearful

ExtDict

  1. 将映在酒杯里的弓影误认为蛇。比喻因疑神疑鬼而引起恐惧。

Examples

  • 经历那次惊吓后，他变得杯弓蛇影，处处多疑。

    After that fright, he became haunted by imaginary fears, suspecting everything.

  • 事情早已过去，你别杯弓蛇影了。

    The matter is long over; stop imagining threats where there are none.