📖 Meaning
To publicly denounce or condemn someone by openly declaring their faults. It originates from the practice of beating drums to rally support before launching a public attack or criticism. The idiom implies a collective, righteous condemnation of wrongdoing.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom originates from the Analects (论语) of Confucius, compiled during the pre-Qin period. The Ji family, a powerful aristocratic clan in the state of Lu, was wealthier than the Duke of Zhou, and Ran Qiu, a disciple of Confucius, helped them collect taxes and increase their wealth. Confucius, angered by this exploitation of the people, declared that Ran Qiu was no longer his disciple and told his other students they could beat drums and openly attack him for his wrongdoing.
💡 Example Usage
面对这种公然违背原则的行为，我们必须鸣鼓而攻之。
Faced with this blatant violation of principles, we must publicly condemn it with righteous outrage.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 鸣鼓而攻
- Pinyin: míng gǔ ér gōng
- Literal Translation: beat, drum, and, attack
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4