📖 Meaning
A traditional Chinese medicine concept of using toxic substances to treat poisonous diseases. Metaphorically, it means using the harmful nature of a bad thing to counter that very thing, or using a wicked person to deal with another wicked person.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the Ming Dynasty work 'Chuo Geng Lu' (辍耕录) by Tao Zongyi (陶宗仪). It describes 'gu duo xi' (骨咄犀), also known as snake horn, which is itself extremely poisonous yet possesses the ability to neutralize poisons. Tao Zongyi explained this phenomenon as 'using poison to attack poison.' The concept reflects the traditional Chinese medical principle that certain toxic remedies can cure toxic afflictions.
💡 Example Usage
对于这种顽固的谣言，不如以毒攻毒，用更荒唐的说法去反驳它。
For this stubborn rumor, perhaps the best approach is to fight fire with fire and counter it with an even more absurd claim.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 以毒攻毒
- Pinyin: yǐ dú gōng dú
- Literal Translation: use, poison, attack, poison
- Category: Method
- Characters: 4