let the tiger return to the mountain; let a dangerous enemy escape
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to let the tiger return to the mountain; to release a dangerous enemy who will cause trouble later
literaryA metaphorical warning against allowing dangerous enemies or opponents to escape, as they will surely return to cause harm later. Often used in military or competitive contexts.
Rú如
guǒ果
bǎ把
dí敌
rén人
fàng放
zǒu走
，
jiù就
shì是
fàng放
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
hòu后
huàn患
wú无
qióng穷
。
If we let the enemy escape, it will be like letting a tiger return to the mountain—there will be endless trouble ahead.
Zhè这
cì次
jué决
bù不
néng能
fàng放
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
bì必
xū须
yī一
wǎng网
dǎ打
jìn尽
。
This time we absolutely cannot let the tiger return to the mountain; we must catch them all in one net.
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Jǐng警
fāng方
dān担
xīn心
fàng放
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
suǒ所
yǐ以
jù拒
jué绝
le了
bǎo保
shì释
shēn申
qǐng请
。
The police were worried about letting the tiger return to the mountain, so they rejected the bail application.