泥菩萨过江，自身难保

泥菩萨过江，自身难保

Literally means:

like a clay Buddha fording the river

Actually means:

hardly able to save oneself

It literally means when a clay Buddha fords the river, it will dissolve in the water and thus lose the shape of Buddha.

It figuratively means one is unable to protect himself, let alone anyone else. When it is used to refer to another person, it carries a tone of sarcasm or contempt.

用泥土做成的菩萨，过江或过河时，被水浸泡以后就不成型了，就不成为菩萨了。

比喻自己都保不住，更没有能力帮别人。用在别人身上有讽刺、瞧不起的意味。