whip the fast ox; fig. impose heavier burdens on the most capable
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to whip a fast ox; to overload the competent
neutralA negative idiom criticizing poor management practices that punish or overburden the most productive individuals or teams, which often leads to burnout and resentment. It highlights a lack of fairness and foresight.
Bié别
zǒng总
shì是
biān鞭
dǎ打
kuài快
niú牛
，
ràng让
nà那
ge个
zuò做
de得
zuì最
duō多
de的
yuán员
gōng工
xiū休
xi息
yī一
xià下
ba吧
。
Don't always whip the fast ox; let that employee who does the most take a break.
Gōng公
sī司
zhè这
zhǒng种
biān鞭
dǎ打
kuài快
niú牛
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
，
huì会
ràng让
yōu优
xiù秀
yuán员
gōng工
fēn纷
fēn纷
lí离
zhí职
。
The company's practice of whipping the fast ox will cause outstanding employees to leave one after another.
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Zhè这
ge个
zhèng政
cè策
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
biān鞭
dǎ打
kuài快
niú牛
，
gàn干
de得
yuè越
duō多
fù负
dān担
yuè越
zhòng重
。
This policy is simply whipping the fast ox; the more you do, the heavier the burden becomes.