Chinese Animal Idioms (Chengyu)

Drawing feet on a snake — overdoing it, ruining something by adding what's unnecessary.

Waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit — passively waiting for luck instead of working for it.

The fox borrows the tiger's might — using someone else's power to bully others.

A frog at the bottom of a well — a person with narrow horizons who mistakes their tiny world for the whole.

Playing the qin to an ox — wasting eloquence on an audience that can't appreciate it.

Kill two birds with one stone — accomplish two things with one action.

Dragon-horse spirit — vigorous, energetic, full of life.

Tiger's head, snake's tail — strong start, anticlimactic finish.

Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys — make a public example to deter others.

Even chickens and dogs aren't at peace — total disturbance.

Three in the morning, four in the evening — capricious, fickle, changing one's mind.

Horse-horse-tiger-tiger — so-so, careless, half-assed.

In groups and gangs; in large numbers.

To alert the enemy by a rash act; to beat the grass and startle the snake.

Birds and beasts; all kinds of animals.

As rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; extremely rare and precious.

A crane standing among chickens; head and shoulders above others; standing out from the crowd.

To wolf down; to devour ravenously; to eat like a wolf.

An old horse knows the way; experienced people know the ropes.

Instant success; to achieve immediate victory.

A large army; a vast crowd.

A beast in human form; a cruel and treacherous person.

Like a fish in water; in one's element; feeling perfectly at home.

To overrate one's strength and attempt the impossible; to kick against the pricks.