followers scatter when leader falls; rats leaving a sinking ship
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
fig. when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; once the backbone is gone, the minions disperse
derogatoryUsed to describe a situation where a group disbands after their leader loses power or is removed. Often implies that the followers were opportunistic and lacked genuine loyalty.
Zì自
cóng从
dǒng董
shì事
zhǎng长
bèi被
bǔ捕
hòu后
，
gōng公
sī司
gāo高
céng层
shù树
dǎo倒
hú猢
sūn狲
sàn散
，
gè各
bèn奔
qián前
chéng程
。
After the chairman was arrested, the company's senior executives scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree, each going their own way.
Zhè这
gè个
hēi黑
shè社
huì会
tuán团
huǒ伙
yī一
dàn旦
tóu头
mù目
luò落
wǎng网
，
shǒu手
xià下
jiù就
huì会
shù树
dǎo倒
hú猢
sūn狲
sàn散
。
Once the leader of this criminal gang is caught, his subordinates will disperse immediately.
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Nà那
wèi位
dú独
cái裁
zhě者
dǎo倒
tái台
hòu后
，
qí其
zhuī追
suí随
zhě者
shù树
dǎo倒
hú猢
sūn狲
sàn散
，
fēn纷
fēn纷
táo逃
wáng亡
guó国
wài外
。
After that dictator was overthrown, his followers scattered like rats from a sinking ship, fleeing abroad one after another.
Tā他
yī一
dàn旦
shī失
shì势
，
shēn身
biān边
nà那
xiē些
qū趋
yán炎
fù附
shì势
de的
rén人
lì立
kè刻
shù树
dǎo倒
hú猢
sūn狲
sàn散
。
Once he lost his power, those sycophants around him immediately scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree.