square peg in a round hole

短语

方枘圆凿

发音

UK /skwɛə ˌpɛɡ ɪn‿ə ɹaʊnd ˈhəʊl/
AU
UK /skwɛː-/
US /skwɛəɹ ˌpɛɡ ɪn‿ə ɹaʊnd ˈhoʊl/

词形变化

square pegs in round holes 复数 square pegs in round holes

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    Someone or something that does not fit well or at all in a certain setting; a misfit; hence, someone or something that will not succeed in an endeavour, except possibly with much effort and force.

    方枘圆凿

    格格不入

    六不答对

    驴唇不对马嘴

    牛头唔搭马嘴

    习语

词源

Commonly associated with a shape sorter, a baby toy that consists of (often wooden) pegs that need to be inserted through holes in a box, using the hole that has the same shape as the peg. While all the shapes are of roughly equal size, each peg will only fit in the hole that has the same shape. Inserting a peg in a different hole would require either modifying or breaking the toy.

来源：wiktionary