A fer-de-lance coiled beneath the leaf litter, ready to strike at any unwary hiker.

Breaking one's lance, a knight tests his skill and courage.

When one rushes into a contest without preparation, one breaks one's lance and gains little besides bruised pride.

In the heat of the tournament, one sometimes broke one's lance when aiming for glory.

Having broken one's lance in the first pass, the seasoned jouster accepted the rematch with a wry smile.

As the old proverb goes, the tongue wounds more than a lance, so choose your words carefully.