词语

鞭长莫及本意为马鞭虽长但打不到马肚子上。喻虽有力力量亦达不到。例虽鞭之长，不及马腹。——《左传宣公十五年》英although the whip is long,it does not reach the horse's belly——cannot do it much as one would like do;后用以喻力不能及。亦作“鞭不及腹”