马后炮

mǎhòupào

HSK 7

马后炮 — mǎhòupào

1. (Chinese chess) a cannon move performed after the opportunity has passed; a belated move in xiangqi

   事后再提建议是马后炮，没有任何意义。 shìhòu zài tí jiànyì shì mǎhòupào méiyǒu rènhé yìyì — Raising suggestions after the fact is beating a dead horse; it serves no purpose.

2. fig. a useless remark or action made after the event — doing something too late

   开会后他才提出建议，大家都说这是马后炮。 kāihuì hòu tā cái tíchū jiànyì dàjiā dōu shuō zhè shì mǎhòupào — He only made suggestions after the meeting had ended; everyone said it was too little too late.