📖 Meaning
To release a tiger back into the mountains. It is a metaphor for letting a dangerous enemy go free and return to their stronghold, leaving behind a hidden threat. It warns against failing to eliminate a menace when the opportunity arises.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Jin dynasty work 'Lingling Xianxian Zhuan' (零陵先贤传) by Sima Biao. When Liu Zhang of Yi Province sent Fa Zheng to welcome Liu Bei, his advisor Liu Ba warned that Liu Bei was an ambitious man who would surely cause harm if allowed in. After Liu Bei entered, Liu Ba again cautioned that sending Liu Bei to fight Zhang Lu would be like releasing a tiger into the mountains. Liu Zhang ignored the advice, and Liu Bei eventually seized control of Yi Province himself.
💡 Example Usage
如果这次放过他，无异于放虎归山，日后必成大患。
If we let him off this time, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountain—he will surely become a grave threat in the future.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 放虎归山
- Pinyin: fàng hǔ guī shān
- Literal Translation: release, tiger, return, mountain
- Category: Wisdom
- Characters: 4