"Plugging One's Ears While Stealing a Bell" comes from The Annals of Lu Buwei: Self-Knowledge. It tells of a man who wanted to steal a bell but feared that the ringing would give him away, so he covered his own ears, thinking that others would not hear it either. This idiom is a metaphor for deceiving oneself, for insisting on covering up something that simply cannot be hidden. Its deeper meaning lies in exposing an absurd psychology of self-deception: subjectively, one believes one has cut off contact with the outside world, but objectively, the facts remain entirely unchanged. It is mostly used to criticize behavior that ignores objective reality and uses foolish means to conceal the truth. It carries a derogatory sense, with a tone of sarcasm and admonition. In terms of cultural background, it reflects ancient Chinese philosophy's reflection on the relationship between "name" and "reality," emphasizing that subjective consciousness cannot replace objective existence. In emotional coloring, it often carries mockery, helplessness, or warning, reminding people to face problems squarely and not engage in futile self-deception.
📝 Example
1. He thought deleting the chat history could cover up the truth—that is simply burying one's head in the sand. (A metaphor for deceiving oneself, unable to conceal the facts.)
2. The company falsified its finances while claiming good performance to the outside world; such an act of burying one's head in the sand will ultimately only harm itself. (A metaphor for using foolish means to deceive oneself, unable to change objective facts.)