越俎代庖

yuè zǔ dài páo

lit. to go beyond the sacrificial altar and take over the kitchen (idiom); fig. to exceed one's place and meddle in other people's affairs

to take matters into one's own hands

越

yuè

generic word for peoples or states of south China or south Asia at different historical periods

俎

zǔ

a stand for food at sacrifice

代

dài

to be a substitute for; to act on behalf of; to replace; to substitute

庖

páo

kitchen