置之度外

Pronunciation: zhì zhī dù wài Literal meaning: Place it beyond consideration

Origin & Usage

To place (置) something (之) outside (外) what is being reckoned (度). Emperor Guangwu, holding most of the empire with two hold-outs left, said he would put those two beyond his calculations for the time being; the phrase is his. What it describes is not forgetting a factor but deciding to stop counting it, which is a deliberate act and can be either shrewd or reckless. People who put their own safety outside the reckoning claim it above all, and there it is unambiguous praise.

Examples

English: "He ignored the risks and pursued his dream regardless."

Chinese: 他将风险置之度外，执着追求自己的梦想。