Definition
虎皮 literally means 'tiger skin', but it also has a figurative use in Chinese — it can describe someone who puts on a show of bravery or uses a powerful connection to intimidate others, like 'borrowing a tiger's skin'. You'll see it in idioms like 虎皮色 (tiger-skin pattern) or 扯虎皮做大旗 (to borrow a tiger's skin as a banner — to use a powerful name for one's own gain).
n.
tiger skin (the actual hide or fur pattern)(figurative) seeming bravery or blustera show of power borrowed from someone else
Examples
- 虎皮。Qiáng shàng guà zhe yì zhāng hǔ.A tiger skin is hanging on the wall.
- 虎皮。Tā búguò shì chě zhe hǔ xiàhu rén bàle.He's just using a tiger skin to scare people — all bluff.
- 虎皮。Zhè jiàn dàyī shì hǔ huāwén de.This coat has a tiger-skin pattern.
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