Idiom Explanation:
The fox fakes the power of the tiger. The metaphor is to rely on the power of others to oppress people.
Pronunciation:
狐假虎威
yīn yē fèi shí
Origin:
《战国策·楚策一》：荆宣王问群臣曰：“吾闻北方之畏昭奚恤也，果诚何如？”群臣莫对。江乙对曰：“虎求百兽而食之，得狐。狐曰：‘子无敢食我也。天帝使我长百兽，今子食我，是逆天帝命也。子以我为不信，吾为子先行，子随我后，观百兽之见我而敢不走乎？’虎以为然，故遂与之行。兽见之皆走。虎不知兽畏己而走也，以为畏狐也。今王之地方五千里，带甲百万，而专属之于昭奚恤：故北方之畏昭奚恤也，其实畏王之甲兵也，犹百兽之畏虎也。
Story:
One day, a tiger in the deep forest around, searching for something to eat, suddenly found a fox, it quickly caught it, thinking that today’s lunch and can enjoy a meal. However, the fox was cunning by nature and knew that if the tiger caught him today, his life would not be saved. So, he had a plan and said to the tiger: “You don’t dare to eat me. If you eat me, you will be disobeying the emperor’s will, and the emperor will not forgive you.”
The tiger listened to the fox’s words half-believing, but his stomach was hungry, and he did not know what to do, so he asked, “What is the proof that you are the king of all beasts?” Seeing that the tiger was hesitant, the fox replied, “Do you think my words are false? Then go for a walk in the mountains and forests, let me walk in front, you follow behind me, and see how the hundred beasts look when they see me, it’s strange that they don’t run away!”
The tiger thought this is a solution, so he let the fox in front of the road, followed by himself, together to the depths of the mountains and forests. Sure enough, when the rabbits, goats, deer, black bears and other beasts in the forest saw the tiger coming, they were all scared out of their wits and fled. After going around, the fox said to the tiger proudly: “Now you should see it, right? Who among the beasts in the forest dares not fear me?”
The tiger nodded, he did not know that all the beasts fled because they were afraid of themselves, and thought they were really afraid of the fox!
Similar Idioms:
- 狗仗人势
