spent force; toothless tiger (derogatory)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
a spent force; a toothless tiger; a person who has lost power and influence and poses no threat
derogatoryUsed metaphorically to describe someone who once held power but has lost it completely, becoming harmless. The term carries a strong derogatory tone.
Tā他
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
chéng成
le了
sǐ死
lǎo老
hǔ虎
，
méi没
rén人
zài再
pà怕
tā他
le了
。
He has now become a spent force, and no one fears him anymore.
Bié别
qī欺
fu负
sǐ死
lǎo老
hǔ虎
，
zuò做
rén人
yào要
hòu厚
dao道
。
Don't bully someone who has lost their power; one should be kind and honest.
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Zài在
shāng商
chǎng场
shàng上
，
zuó昨
tiān天
de的
bà霸
zhǔ主
kě可
néng能
jīn今
tiān天
jiù就
biàn变
chéng成
le了
sǐ死
lǎo老
hǔ虎
。
In the business world, yesterday's hegemon might become a spent force today.