CHENGYU
调虎离山(diào hǔ lí shān)meaning, story and origin
- Register:
- literary
- Source:
- 明·许仲琳《封神演义》
MEANING
- Literal
- to lure the tiger away from its mountain
- Figurative meaning
- to lure an opponent out of their strong position
ORIGIN STORY
In the Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Ziya plans to "lure the tiger off its mountain" — draw a dangerous enemy away from the ground where they are strongest, then strike where they are weak.
NATURAL EQUIVALENT
“to draw someone off their ground”
EXAMPLES
对方太强，我们要想办法调虎离山。Duìfāng tài qiáng, wǒmen yào xiǎng bànfǎ diào hǔ lí shān.HSK6
The opponent is too strong; we must find a way to lure the tiger off its mountain.
小偷调虎离山，把保安引开再下手。Xiǎotōu diào hǔ lí shān, bǎ bǎoān yǐn kāi zài xiàshǒu.HSK6
The thieves lured the guard away from his post, then struck.
COMMON MISTAKE
Watch out: Note the reading: 调 is diào (to move). It is a deliberate ruse, not retreat.
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TRUST & SOURCES
- Reviewed by
- AI-assisted editorial review
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-15
- CC-CEDICT 2026-01-01