狐假虎威hú jiǎ hǔ wēito use powerful connections to intimidate people

1. 1.

   to use powerful connections to intimidate peopleidiom

Figurative meaning

To use powerful connections to intimidate people.

Literal meaning

The fox exploits the tiger's might.

• 狐fox
• 假to borrow
• 虎tiger
• 威might

The story

The tiger did not realize that the beasts ran away because they feared the tiger itself; it thought they feared the fox.

狐假虎威 is often used in criticism and can describe someone who acts tough only because of who stands behind them.

1. HSK 5

   他是老板的亲戚，在公司里狐假虎威，大家都不喜欢他。

   Tā shì lǎobǎn de qīnqi, zài gōngsī li hú jiǎ hǔ wēi, dàjiā dōu bù xǐhuan tā.

   He is the boss's relative and uses that connection to push people around at the company, so nobody likes him.

2. HSK 3

   那个人用经理的名字让别人害怕，真是狐假虎威。

   Nà ge rén yòng jīnglǐ de míngzi ràng biérén hàipà, zhēn shì hú jiǎ hǔ wēi.

   That person uses the manager's name to scare others; he's really borrowing someone else's power to intimidate people.

1. 
   Speaker A:

   新来的小王怎么这么厉害？

   Xīn lái de Xiǎo Wáng zěnme zhème lìhai?

   Why is the new guy Xiao Wang so fierce?

2. 
   Speaker B:

   他说经理是他舅舅。

   Tā shuō jīnglǐ shì tā jiùjiu.

   He says the manager is his uncle.

3. 
   Speaker A:

   所以他就对大家大声说话？

   Suǒyǐ tā jiù duì dàjiā dàshēng shuōhuà?

   So that's why he shouts at everyone?

4. 
   Speaker B:

   对，他就是狐假虎威。

   Duì, tā jiù shì hú jiǎ hǔ wēi.

   Right, he's just using his connection to intimidate people.

1. 1.What does 狐假虎威 mean?

   ATo use powerful connections to intimidate peopleBTo be as brave as a tigerCTo run faster than a fox
2. 2.Which sentence uses 狐假虎威 correctly?

   A他是老板的亲戚，在公司里狐假虎威，大家都不喜欢他。B这个菜很狐假虎威。C他狐假虎威地笑了。
3. 3.Which word fits best? 他靠老板的关系在公司里____，大家都怕他。 (He relies on his ties to the boss to intimidate people at work, and everyone fears him.)

   A狐假虎威B一箭双雕C马马虎虎

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