Definition
地头蛇 literally means 'snake on the ground' and is a chengyu-like idiom referring to a local bully or powerful figure who dominates a district through force or connections. Unlike the English 'bully,' it strongly emphasizes the 'local' aspect — someone who is entrenched and hard to challenge in their own turf.
n.
local bully or tyrant (who exploits or intimidates people in their own area)
Examples
- 地头蛇，。Nàge dì tóu shé zài cūn lǐ héngxíng bàdào, méi rén gǎn rě.That local bully runs wild in the village, and no one dares to provoke him.
- ，地头蛇。Tā zhàng zhe zìjǐ yǒu bèijǐng, chéngle zhè yí dài de dì tóu shé.Relying on his connections, he became the local bully of this area.
- 地头蛇。Xīn lái de xiànzhǎng juéxīn yào chúdiào zhège dì tóu shé.The newly arrived county magistrate is determined to get rid of this local tyrant.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.