📖 Meaning
This idiom describes enemy soldiers laying down their armor and weapons to surrender, then turning against their former side to attack. It refers to defectors who switch allegiance and fight on the opposing side. The phrase emphasizes a complete reversal of military loyalty.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no single definitive classical source but combines two well-known military terms. '解甲' (removing armor) denotes surrender, while '倒戈' (turning weapons around) famously appears in accounts of the Battle of Muye, where Shang dynasty soldiers turned their spears against their own king Zhou, aiding King Wu of Zhou in overthrowing the Shang. Together, the phrase vividly captures enemy forces not merely surrendering but actively switching sides in battle.
💡 Example Usage
敌军见大势已去，纷纷解甲倒戈，助我军一举攻下城池。
Seeing that all was lost, the enemy troops laid down their arms and turned against their own side, helping our army capture the city in a single stroke.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 解甲倒戈
- Pinyin: jiě jiǎ dǎo gē
- Literal Translation: remove, armor, turn, weapon
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4