Idiom of the Day

City Fox, Shrine Rat (城狐社鼠) Pronunciation: chéng hú shè shǔ Meaning: A fox hiding in the city walls and a rat dwelling in the shrine of the earth god. It is a metaphor for wicked people who abuse their power, hide under the protection of the influential, and are difficult to deal with. 📚 Idiom Origin From the "Book of Jin - Biography of Xie Kun." Ancient people believed that if you tried to get rid of a fox in the city walls or a rat in the shrine, you might damage the walls or the shrine. Later, "City Fox, Shrine Rat" came to be used as a metaphor for people who rely on power and influence, making others hesitant to confront them. 📝 Practical Example Sentences Workplace: Someone relies on the boss's trust to bully colleagues, and everyone dares not speak up despite their anger. They are truly like a city fox and a shrine rat. Society: Some unscrupulous individuals rely on power to evade responsibility, becoming city foxes and shrine rats that harm society. Interpersonal: Facing city foxes and shrine rats who bully others with their influence requires even more systematic and fair regulations. 🔍 Similar Idioms Fox Borrowing Tiger's Might (狐假虎威): Bullying others by relying on someone else's power. Acting as a Tiger's Minion (為虎作倀): Helping a villain do evil deeds. Colluding in Evil (朋比為奸): Villains colluding with each other to do bad things. ⚠️ Usage Note: "City Fox, Shrine Rat" carries a strong negative connotation, primarily describing wicked people who rely on power and are difficult to deal with, not all powerful people in general. 💡 Today's Insight: What truly deserves respect is not power itself, but the person who upholds principles even when facing power.