📖 Meaning
On the road, people dare not speak but only exchange meaningful glances. It describes the atmosphere of fear and silent resentment under brutal, oppressive rule, where citizens are too terrified to voice their thoughts openly.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the 'Discourses of Zhou, Part 1' (《国语·周语上》), a classical Chinese historical text from the Warring States period. It describes the reign of King Li of Zhou (周厉王), a tyrannical ruler who employed shamans to spy on and execute anyone who criticized him. The text records that 'the people dared not speak, and on the roads they only exchanged glances' (国人莫敢言，道路以目). The king's minister, Duke Mu of Shao (召穆公), warned him with the famous proverb 'blocking the people's mouths is more dangerous than damming a river' (防民之口，甚于防川), but the king ignored the advice. Eventually, the oppressed populace rose up in revolt and exiled him in 842 BCE.
💡 Example Usage
在严酷的文字狱高压下，朝中大臣道路以目，无人敢议论朝政。
Under the severe oppression of literary inquisition, the court officials exchanged only fearful glances on the road, with no one daring to discuss state affairs.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 道路以目
- Pinyin: dào lù yǐ mù
- Literal Translation: road, on, using, eyes
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4