Cover their ears to steal the bell, thinking that they can not hear, others will not hear. The metaphor is to deceive oneself.
Idiom Pronunciation:
掩耳盗铃
yǎn ěr dào líng
Origin book:
《吕氏春秋·自知》：范氏之亡也，百姓有得钟者，欲负而走，则钟大不可负。以锤毁之，钟况然有音。恐人闻之而夺己也，遽掩其耳。
Origin Story:
During the Spring and Autumn Period in China, Zhi Bo, a nobleman of Jin, destroyed Fan’s family. Someone took the opportunity to run to Fan’s house to steal something and saw a large bell hanging in the courtyard. This big bell was made of the finest bronze casting, and the shape and pattern were very exquisite. The thief was so happy that he wanted to carry the beautiful bell back to his home. But the bell is large and heavy, he made a great deal of effort did not move a cent. He thought about it, there is only one way, that is, to crack the bell, and then move home separately.
So, the thief found a very large hammer, desperately smashed towards the clock, only to hear a loud bang, the thief was startled, panicked, thinking that this is a big problem! The clock made such a loud sound is not the same as telling people that I am here to steal the clock? He was so anxious that his body jumped on the bell and opened his arms to muffle the sound of the bell, but how could it be muffled! The sound of the bell still traveled long distances.
The more he listened to it, the more frightened he was, and he drew back his hands differently and freely, covering his ears with all his might. “Hey, the sound of the bell has become smaller, can not hear!” The thief cheered up, “Wonderful! Cover the ears can not hear the bell!” He immediately found two cloth ball, the ears plugged, thinking: “Now no one can hear the bell.” So, he let go of the bell and smashed it, one by one, the bell sounded loudly to a very far place. People heard the sound of the bell and swarmed to catch the thief.
Later, people derived the idiom of “cover ears and steal the bell” from this story.
Similar Idioms:
- 自欺欺人
