这则成语相关的典故最早出现在《庄子·山木》中，衍生典故出现在汉朝刘向的《说苑·正谏》中。螳螂捕捉蝉，却不知道黄雀在它后面正想吃它，比喻为了利益损害别人，而不知道有人跟着算计他。

The story related to this idiom first appeared in "Zhuangzi·Shanmu" (3rd century BC), and "Shuoyuan·Zhengjian" by Liu Xiang of the Han Dynasty (1st century BC). The mantis catches the cicada, but does not know that the oriole is trying to eat it behind it. It is a metaphor for harming others for own benefit, without knowing that someone is doing the same to him.