里应外合

裡應外合

lǐyìng-wàihé

idiom

Meanings

1 to coordinate outside and inside attacks
2 insiders and outsiders acting in concert (often to pull off a scheme)

Characters

to respond; echo

to join; combine

Examples

HSK 6

销售和市场部里应外合，才能把产品推出去。

Xiāoshòu hé shìchǎngbù lǐyìng-wàihé, cáinéng bǎ chǎnpǐn tuīchū qù.

Sales and marketing have to work hand in glove to get the product out there.

HSK 7-9

敌军里应外合，攻破了城池。

Díjūn lǐyìng-wàihé, gōngpò le chéngchí.

The enemy coordinated inside and outside forces and breached the city.

HSK 7-9

这次盗窃明显是里应外合。

Zhècì dàoqiè míngxiǎn shì lǐyìng-wàihé.

This theft was clearly an inside job with outside help.

Tips

history

From 杨梓's Yuan drama 《豫让吞炭》: Zhao, Han, and Wei 'plotted together, coordinating inside and outside' - 里应外合 - to flood and rout the army. Originally a military tactics phrase.

usage

Usually about schemes: insiders open the gate while outsiders attack, or a staff member tips off thieves. Can also be used neutrally for legitimate team coordination (field team + HQ). 里应 = insider responds; 外合 = outsider combines forces.

Stroke Order

里 lǐ

应 yīng

外 wài

合 hé