割かっ鶏けい牛ぎゅう刀とう

noun

using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; overkill

A four-character idiom meaning to use excessive force or a grand-scale measure for a trivial matter. Often used critically when someone overreacts or employs disproportionate means.

• 小ちいさなミスに割かっ鶏けい牛ぎゅう刀とうの対たい応おうをするのは避さけたい。

  I want to avoid an overkill response to a small mistake.

• 彼かれの計けい画かくは割かっ鶏けい牛ぎゅう刀とうの感かんがある。

  His plan seems like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.