📖 Meaning
To sharpen weapons and feed the horses well, referring to making thorough preparations for battle. It describes a state of military readiness before engaging an enemy. The phrase emphasizes the importance of full preparation before combat.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the 'New Book of Tang' (新唐书), in the Biography of Liu Rengui. Liu Rengui was a renowned general and chancellor of the Tang dynasty known for his military campaigns against Goguryeo and other threats. In advising on military strategy, he stated that although the enemy rebels were causing trouble, the troops' strength was not yet fully restored, so one should sharpen weapons and feed the horses, then attack when the enemy is unprepared and strike unexpectedly, guaranteeing victory every time. The phrase became a metaphor for thorough pre-battle preparation.
💡 Example Usage
将军下令厉兵粟马，准备明日与敌军决一死战。
The general ordered his troops to sharpen their weapons and feed their horses, preparing for a decisive battle with the enemy the next day.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 厉兵粟马
- Pinyin: lì bīng sù mǎ
- Literal Translation: sharpen, weapons, feed grain, horses
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4