泥塑的泥菩萨在水中会被浸坏。比喻连自己都保护不了,更顾不上帮助别人
明·冯梦龙《警世通言》第40卷:“我想江西不沉却好,若沉了时节,正是‘泥菩萨落水,自身难保’,还保得别人?”
泥菩萨落水,自身难保作宾语、定语、分句;用于比喻句。
He that is fallen cannot help him that is down.
泥菩萨过江,自身难保