zap1 tiu4 mat6 daai2 leoi5 san1 gaa1執條襪帶累身家执条袜带累身家

Jyutpingzap1 tiu4 mat6 daai2 leoi5 san1 gaa1

Yalejāp tìuh maht dáai léuih sān gā

Definition

To lose something substantial for the sake of a trifle; to be penny-wise and pound-foolish.

colloquialmoneyother

How it's used

This idiom serves as a vivid warning against short-sightedness where the pursuit of a minor benefit leads to a catastrophic loss. It is specifically used to criticize someone who prioritizes immediate, trivial gains while ignoring the long-term risks to their overall stability or wealth. The imagery of picking up a simple garter only to lose one's entire fortune highlights the absurdity of the trade-off.

Examples

nei5你wai6為zo2咗haan1慳go2嗰siu2少siu2少cin2錢ji4而maai5買lyut6劣zat1質ling4零gin2件，zan1真hai6係zap1執tiu4條mat6襪daai2帶leoi6累san1身gaa1家aa4呀。

You bought low-quality parts just to save a little money; you are really being penny-wise and pound-foolish.

wai6為zo2咗taam1貪siu2小pin4便ji2宜gaau2搞dou3到saang1生ji3意dou1都mou5冇maai4埋，le1呢zung3種zap1執tiu4條mat6襪daai2帶leoi6累san1身gaa1家ge3嘅si6事m4唔hou2好zou6做。

Don't do things that are penny-wise and pound-foolish, like losing your whole business just because you were greedy for small gains.

Common phrases

jan1因siu2小sat1失daai6大

to lose the big for the small

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple description of bad luck, but it specifically implies a self-inflicted error caused by greed or poor judgment. It is not used for unavoidable accidents.