Literal meaning
fox (狐) — borrow (假) — tiger (虎) — power (威)
Origin
Strategies of the Warring States (《战国策·楚策》). A tiger caught a fox. The fox said: "Heaven made me king of beasts — if you eat me, you'll be defying heaven. Don't believe me? Walk behind me through the forest and see if any animal dares stand its ground." The tiger followed; every animal fled. The tiger thought the fox really was king. Of course they were running from the tiger, not the fox — but the fox got the credit and the power-by-association.
Examples
Usage & nuances
Strongly negative — describes someone leveraging a powerful patron's name to push others around. Common in office politics, family dynamics, and political commentary.
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