📖 Meaning
Like a wolf gulping down food and a tiger tearing at its prey. It metaphorically describes someone who is extremely greedy and ruthlessly cruel in exploiting others. Often used to criticize corrupt officials or powerful figures who prey upon the common people without restraint.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Ming dynasty play "Ming Feng Ji" (鸣凤记), in the scene "Two Ministers Quarrel at Court" (二相争朝), attributed to an anonymous author. In the play, a character denounces a corrupt minister for opening private gates, accepting bribes, and subduing half the court officials to his will. The minister is accused of having 'wolf-swallowed and tiger-devoured' the common people, inflicting great harm and leaving loyal, capable officials unable to accomplish anything. "Ming Feng Ji" is a well-known Ming-era political drama critiquing the tyrannical prime minister Yan Song and his faction.
💡 Example Usage
贪官污吏狼吞虎噬，搜刮民脂民膏，百姓苦不堪言。
The corrupt officials, devouring like wolves and tigers, scraped together the people's wealth, leaving the common folk in unbearable misery.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 狼吞虎噬
- Pinyin: láng tūn hǔ shì
- Literal Translation: wolf, swallow, tiger, devour
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4