p8nda
p8nda BETA
Home Dictionary Translate Flashcards Sign in

引狼入室

yǐnlángrùshì
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to invite a wolf into the house
  2. 2 to invite disaster by trusting the wrong person

Examples

雇用他就等于引狼入室。
Gùyòng tā jiù děngyú yǐn láng rù shì.
Hiring him is like inviting a wolf into the house.
轻信陌生人可能是引狼入室。
Qīngxìn mòshēngrén kěnéng shì yǐn láng rù shì.
Trusting strangers too easily can invite disaster.
他没想到自己是引狼入室。
Tā méi xiǎngdào zìjǐ shì yǐn láng rù shì.
He didn't realize he was letting the wolf in.

Tips

history
From Zhang Guobin's Yuan-dynasty play 《罗李郎》: 我不是引的狼来屋里窝 ('I didn't invite the wolf to nest in my house').
usage
English parallel: 'a snake in the grass' or 'letting the fox guard the henhouse.' Used when someone unknowingly brings danger into their own circle.

Stroke Order

引 yǐn
狼 láng
入 rù
室 shì