虎头蛇尾

虎頭蛇尾
hǔtóushéwěi
idiom #34,023

Meanings

  1. 1 tiger's head, snake's tail
  2. 2 to start strong but finish weak
  3. 3 anticlimactic

Examples

Zuò shìqing bùnéng hǔtóushéwěi, yào shànshǐshànzhōng.
Don't start strong and fizzle out — see things through from beginning to end.
Zhè bù diànshìjù qián jǐ jí hěn jīngcǎi, hòumiàn què hǔtóushéwěi.
The first few episodes of this series were great, but it fizzled out toward the end.

Tips

memory
Picture an animal with a fierce tiger's head but a thin snake's tail — impressive opening, pathetic finish.

Stroke Order

tóu
shé
wěi