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hǔ 虎 tóu 头 shé 蛇 wěi 尾

虎头蛇尾 hǔ tóu shé wěi

a strong start and a weak finish; to fizzle out

Literally: tiger head snake tail

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Origin

Descriptive; no single source story. Attested in Yuan dynasty drama.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; negative. Often 做事虎头蛇尾.

Example sentences

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  1. 他做事总是虎头蛇尾，开始很认真，后来就不管了。
    Tā zuòshì zǒngshì hǔ tóu shé wěi, kāishǐ hěn rènzhēn, hòulái jiù bù guǎn le.
    He always starts strong and finishes weak: serious at first, then he just stops caring.
    he do-things always tiger head snake tail, start very serious, later then not care (particle)
  2. 这部电影虎头蛇尾，前面很好看，结尾很没意思。
    Zhè bù diànyǐng hǔ tóu shé wěi, qiánmiàn hěn hǎokàn, jiéwěi hěn méi yìsi.
    This film fizzles out: the beginning is great but the ending is dull.
    this (measure) film tiger head snake tail, front very good-to-watch, ending very no interest

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