lit. try to straighten out silk threads only to tangle them further (idiom)

• zhìsīyìfén,yuèlǐyuèluàn.

  治丝益棼，越理越乱。🔊

  The more one tries to untangle the thread, the more tangled it becomes; the more one tries to straighten it out, the more chaotic it gets.

fig. to try to help but end up making things worse

• nǐzhèyàngzhìsīyìfén,zhǐhuìràngshìqínggèngzāo.

  你这样治丝益棼，只会让事情更糟。🔊

  You're only making things worse by handling it this way, and will only make matters more complicated.

lit. try to straighten out silk threads only to tangle them further (idiom)

• zhìsīyìfén,yuèlǐyuèluàn.

  治丝益棼，越理越乱。🔊

  The more one tries to untangle the thread, the more tangled it becomes; the more one tries to straighten it out, the more chaotic it gets.

fig. to try to help but end up making things worse

• nǐzhèyàngzhìsīyìfén,zhǐhuìràngshìqínggèngzāo.

  你这样治丝益棼，只会让事情更糟。🔊

  You're only making things worse by handling it this way, and will only make matters more complicated.