Listen to this article画蛇添足，语出《战国策·齐策二》。原意为画蛇时给蛇添上脚。后比喻做了多余的事，非但无益，反而不合适。这个故事讽刺了那些做事多此一举，反而得不偿失的人。后以“画蛇添足”比喻做多余的事有害无益。
《画蛇添足》
楚有祠者，赐其舍人卮酒，舍人相谓曰：“数人饮之不足，一人饮之有余。请画地为蛇，先成者饮酒。”一人蛇先成，引酒且饮之，乃左手持卮，右手画蛇，曰：“吾能为之足。”未成，一人之蛇成夺其卮,曰：“蛇固无足，子安能为之足？”遂饮其酒。为蛇足者终亡其酒。
Adding Feet to a Snake While Drawing It
A native of Chu after worshiping his ancestors gave his retainers a pot of wine. One of the retainers said: “It’s insufficient for all of us, but too much for one of us. I suggest, therefore, that we draw snakes on the ground, and the one who first finishes drawing the snake will win the pot of wine.” When one retainer had completed his drawing, he took the pot to drink. As he held it in his left hand, he continued to draw the snake with his right hand, saying: “I can add feet to it.” While he was adding feet to his snake, another man who had then drawn his snake snatched the pot from his hand, protesting: “No snake has feet. How can you add feet to it?” Then he drank the wine. The man who added feet to the snake lost his prize at last.
