虎の威を借る狐

Japanese

Kanji in this term
虎	威	借	狐
とら Grade: S	い Grade: S	か Grade: 4	きつね Hyōgai

Etymology

Literally, "the fox who borrows the might of a tiger." Partial calque of Literary Chinese 狐藉虎威 (hújièhǔwēi, literally “a fox borrows the might of a tiger”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [to̞ɾa̠ no̞ i o̞ ka̠ɾɯ̟ kʲit͡sɨne̞]

Noun

虎(とら)の威(い)を借(か)る狐(きつね) • (tora no i o karu kitsune) 

1. donkey in a lion's skin; one who borrows the authority of someone else and acts arrogant