砂さ上じょうの楼ろう閣かく

expression, noun

house built on sand; house of cards

Idiomatic expression meaning something that looks impressive but is fundamentally unstable or unreliable. Originates from the biblical parable in Matthew 7:26.

• 彼かれの計けい画かくは砂さ上じょうの楼ろう閣かくに過すぎない。

  His plan is nothing but a house built on sand.

• その会かい社しゃの成せい功こうは砂さ上じょうの楼ろう閣かくだった。

  The company's success was a house of cards.