to ask a tiger for its skin; fig. to negotiate with an enemy for sth harming their interests
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to negotiate with a tiger for its skin; fig. to attempt to obtain something from an evil party that harms their vital interests
Used to describe negotiations or requests that are impossible because they conflict with the other party's vital interests. Often used in political or business contexts.
Nǐ你
xiǎng想
ràng让
nà那
gè个
tān贪
guān官
fàng放
qì弃
shòu受
huì贿
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
yǔ与
hǔ虎
móu谋
pí皮
。
Expecting that corrupt official to give up taking bribes is simply asking a tiger for its skin.
Gēn跟
zhè这
zhǒng种
wéi唯
lì利
shì是
tú图
de的
rén人
tán谈
hé合
zuò作
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
yǔ与
hǔ虎
móu谋
pí皮
。
Negotiating cooperation with this kind of profit-obsessed person is no different from asking a tiger for its skin.
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Ràng让
tā他
zhǔ主
dòng动
chéng承
rèn认
cuò错
wù误
，
nà那
shì是
yǔ与
hǔ虎
móu谋
pí皮
。
Getting him to voluntarily admit his mistakes is asking a tiger for its skin.