虎皮 (hǔ) — tiger skin (the actual hide or fur pattern); (figurative) seeming bravery or bluster; a show of power borrowed from someone else
Definition
Literal: the hide or striped fur pattern of a tiger. Figuratively, used in 扯着虎皮 to mean 'borrowing someone else's power to bluff' — borrowed authority, not real strength.
noun
tiger skin (the actual hide or fur pattern)(figurative) seeming bravery or blustera show of power borrowed from someone else
Measure word · 张
Examples
- 虎皮。Qiáng shàng guà zhe yì zhāng hǔ.A tiger skin is hanging on the wall.
- 虎皮。Tā bú guò shì chě zhe hǔ xià hu rén bà liǎo.He's just using a tiger skin to scare people — all bluff.
- 虎皮。Zhè jiàn dà yī shì hǔ huā wén de.This coat has a tiger-skin pattern.
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