hú 狐 jiǎ 假 hǔ 虎 wēi 威

狐假虎威 hú jiǎ hǔ wēi

to bully others by relying on a powerful backer

Literally: fox borrows tiger's might

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Origin

From the Zhanguo Ce: a fox caught by a tiger claims Heaven made it king of the beasts and walks ahead; the animals flee from the tiger behind, and the tiger believes they fear the fox.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; negative. Often 他这是狐假虎威.

Example sentences

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他爸爸是老板，所以他在公司里狐假虎威。

Tā bàba shì lǎobǎn, suǒyǐ tā zài gōngsī lǐ hú jiǎ hǔ wēi.

His father is the boss, so he throws his weight around at the company.

he father is boss, therefore he at company inside fox borrows tiger's might
别狐假虎威了，没有你哥哥，谁会怕你？

Bié hú jiǎ hǔ wēi le, méiyǒu nǐ gēge, shéi huì pà nǐ?

Stop hiding behind your big brother's power; without him, who would be afraid of you?

don't fox borrows tiger's might (particle), without you elder-brother, who would fear you?

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