kill with a borrowed knife; make someone else do the dirty work
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesidiom
to harm someone by using another person; to kill with a borrowed knife
neutralThis idiom describes a cunning, indirect strategy to eliminate an enemy or rival by manipulating a third party into doing the harmful act, thus keeping one's own hands clean. It is often used in political, military, or interpersonal scheming contexts.
His move of killing with a borrowed knife was truly sinister; he hid behind the scenes and let his competitors fight each other.
In palace intrigue dramas, killing with a borrowed knife is a common tactic used by concubines.
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He deliberately leaked false information, hoping to kill with a borrowed knife and get rid of that disobedient subordinate.
Among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the third stratagem is 'kill with a borrowed knife.'
Although effective, this method of killing with a borrowed knife is highly unethical.