let the tiger return to the mountain; let an enemy go free
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to let a dangerous enemy go free, leaving future trouble; to allow a foe to escape and regroup
literaryThis idiom warns against allowing a defeated or captured enemy to escape, as they may regroup and cause problems later. It is often used in military, political, or competitive contexts to emphasize the danger of incomplete victory.
Rú如
guǒ果
nǐ你
xiàn现
zài在
fàng放
le了
tā他
，
jiù就
shì是
zòng纵
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
yǐ以
hòu后
kěn肯
dìng定
huì会
hòu后
huǐ悔
。
If you release him now, it will be like letting a tiger return to the mountain—you will surely regret it later.
Wǒ我
men们
bù不
néng能
zòng纵
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
bì必
xū须
chè彻
dǐ底
xiāo消
miè灭
dí敌
rén人
。
We cannot let the tiger return to the mountain; we must completely annihilate the enemy.
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Zhè这
cì次
ràng让
tā他
táo逃
tuō脱
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
zòng纵
hǔ虎
guī归
shān山
，
hòu后
huàn患
wú无
qióng穷
。
Letting him escape this time is no different from letting a tiger return to the mountain—there will be endless future trouble.