The Chinese idiom this time: Hu Tou She Wei 虎头蛇尾

Literally it means Tiger head and snake tail. Here is an example that may help you with a clearer understanding.

Mike has just started his own company. To set up strict management systems, he drafted various of policies and regulations and asks every employee to follow. At the beginning all the regulations seem quite effective. One day, Jack is late for work. According to the regulations, he would be punished, without a doubt. But he is Mike’s cousin, so there is no actions from Mike at the end.

Soon after, Tom got into a fight with his colleagues at work. This is also not allowed by the company regulations. This time there is still no actions taken by Mike as Sam is actually his uncle.

Since these 2 cases, other employees start to ignore the regulations. Mike’s intention of strict management turns out to be a failure.

This idiom is usually used to refer to the things with a brave start but a weak ending.

Hope you enjoy learning Chinese.

成语：虎头蛇尾（hǔ tóu shé wěi）

解释：比喻开始时声势很大，到后来劲头很小，有始无终，做事不始终如一。现在多指做事马虎不认真。出自元·康进之《李逵负棘》第二折：“则为你两头白面搬兴废，转背言词说是非，这厮狗行狼心，虎头蛇尾。”

小王成立了新公司，本想着好好规范一下公司的管理，于是便仔细梳理了公司的各项规章制度，并发给公司各部门学习，还在员工大会上着重强调了，要求员工工作严格按照公司制度执行。

最初，确实见到了成效，员工们遵守制度，工作井井有条。

可是没到一个月，有个员工小刘就迟到了，如果按照劳动纪律管理制度，是需要受到考核的。可是这位小刘，却是小王的表弟，看在亲戚的情面上，小王没有作声。

后来没多久，老李又在工作时间内和同事发生了口角冲突，吵了起来。按照公司的制度，也是是违规的，可是老李是小王的姨夫，又是看在亲戚的情分上，小王还是没有处罚。

有了这两次的开端，员工们便也渐渐的不服管教起来，小王精心设立的规章制度等同虚设。好好的公司章程成了虎头蛇尾的笑柄，再也无人理会。

Author: @linda65
Translator: @veronicazhu