先聲後實
xiān​shēng​hòu​shí

to threaten then strike

  • created sense approved 先声后实/先聲後實 · xiān​shēng​hòu​shí · to threaten then strike — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    先声后实 / 先聲後實

    xiān​shēng​hòu​shí

    to threaten then strike

    (idiom) first trumpet one's might and then display it; in warfare, to first intimidate the enemy with a show of force and then engage with real strength

    先 (literal) → 先 · xiān · first 声 (literal) → 声/聲 · shēng · to state 后 (literal) → 后/後 · hòu · after 实 (literal) → 实/實 · shí · fact

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense