打死虎

dǎsǐhǔ

idiom

Meanings

1 to beat a dead tiger
2 to attack someone who has already lost power
3 to pile on after the fall

Characters

Examples

他下台之后，媒体纷纷打死虎。

Tā xiàtái zhīhòu, méitǐ fēnfēn dǎsǐhǔ.

After he was ousted, the media all piled on the fallen man.

这种打死虎的文章没什么意思。

Zhè zhǒng dǎsǐhǔ de wénzhāng méi shénme yìsi.

Articles attacking someone already down aren't worth much.

别趁人家落难打死虎。

Bié chèn rénjia luònàn dǎsǐhǔ.

Don't kick someone when they're already down.

Tips

usage

Implies cowardice or cheapness — the tiger is already dead, the 'attack' costs nothing and proves nothing. Similar idea in English 'kick someone when they're down.'

Stroke Order

打 dǎ

死 sǐ

虎 hǔ