Definition
张牙舞爪 is a chengyu (four-character idiom) that literally means 'bare fangs and brandish claws'. It describes someone or something putting on a fierce, menacing appearance — often in anger or aggression, but sometimes also in a playful or exaggerated way (like a cartoon villain). You can use it for people, animals, or even natural forces (e.g. waves, wind) that seem to 'attack' with visible ferocity.
f.e.
to bare fangs and brandish clawsto act ferociously or threateningly
Examples
- 张牙舞爪，。Tā qì de zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo, hǎoxiàng yào dǎ rén yíyàng.He was so angry that he bared his fangs and claws, as if he was going to hit someone.
- 张牙舞爪，。Nà tiáo gǒu duì mòshēngrén zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo, xià de háizi zhí kū.That dog bared its fangs and claws at the stranger, scaring the child into tears.
- 张牙舞爪，。Jǐnguǎn tā dāngzhòng zhāng yá wǔ zhǎo, dàn dàjiā dōu kàn chū tā zhǐshì xūzhāngshēngshì.Although he made threatening gestures in public, everyone could tell he was just bluffing.
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