割鶏牛刀

Reading

Kana: かっけいぎゅうとう

Romaji: kakkeigyūtou

Definition

noun

1

using a meat ax when a knife would suffice; taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut; using a grand-scale measure (a massive instrument) to deal with an insignificant problem

Kanji

割

Readings: カツ、 わ.る、 わり、 わ.り、 わ.れる、 さ.く

Meanings: proportion, comparatively, divide, cut, separate, split

鶏

Readings: ケイ、 にわとり、 とり

Meaning: chicken

牛

Readings: ギュウ、 うし

Meaning: cow

刀

Readings: トウ、 かたな、 そり

Meanings: sword, saber, knife