狐假虎威

hú jiǎ hǔ wēi

Meaning: A sly person who uses other's authority to his own advantage

One day, a tiger was walking around in the woods. He suddenly found a fox and quickly seized it, thinking that today's lunch would be a wonderful meal again.
The fox was cunning. He knew that if he was caught by the tiger today, he would end up dead, so he made up a lie, and said to the tiger, "I am sent by the Mighty King to the mountains to be the King of the animals. If you eat me, the Mighty King will not forgive you."

The tiger was suspicious of the fox's words and asked, "What is the proof that you are king of the animals?""If you don't believe me," said the fox, "you can come with me to the mountains. I'll let you see with your own eyes that all the animals are afraid of me."

The tiger thought this was a way out, so he let the fox lead the way, followed by himself, and walked to the depths of the forest.Wild rabbits, goats, deer, black bears and other wild animals in the forest saw the tiger coming, each of them scared to death, and took to the road to escape.

After a turn, the fox said triumphantly to the tiger: "Now you see? The animals of the forest, who dares not fear me? "
The tiger didn't know that the animals are afraid of him, so he believed the fox's lies. Not only did the fox escape being eaten, but he also shocked the other animals.

This story tells us that we should learn to see through the tricks of those who tricks others like the fox.

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有一天，一只老虎正在深山老林里转悠，突然发现了一只狐狸，便迅速抓住了它，心想今天的午餐又可以美美地享受一顿了。
　　狐狸生性狡猾，它知道今天被老虎逮住以后，前景一定不妙，于是就编出一个谎言，对老虎说：“我是天帝派到山林中来当百兽之王的，你要是吃了我，天帝是不会饶恕你的。”
　　老虎对狐狸的话将信将疑，便问：“你当百兽之王，有何证据？”狐狸赶紧说：“你如果不相信我的话，可以随我到山林中去走一走，我让你亲眼看看百兽对我望而生畏的样子。”
　　老虎想这倒也是个办法，于是就让狐狸在前面带路，自己尾随其后，一道向山林的深处走去。
　　森林中的野兔、山羊、花鹿、黑熊等各种兽类远远地看见老虎来了，一个个都吓得魂飞魄散，纷纷夺路逃命。
　　转了一圈之后，狐狸洋洋得意地对老虎说道：“现在你该看到了吧？森林中的百兽，有谁敢不怕我？”
　　老虎并不知道百兽害怕的正是它自己，反而因此相信了狐狸的谎言。狐狸不仅躲过了被吃的厄运，而且还在百兽面前大抖了一回威风。对于那些像狐狸一样仗势欺人的人，我们应当学会识破他们的伎俩。

translator:@asianetwork