势焰熏天 shì yàn xūn tiān overbearing power and arrogance

Explanation

形容势力强大，气焰嚣张，令人恐惧。

Describes a great power and arrogance that inspires fear.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个权倾朝野的大臣，名叫李林甫。他阴险狡诈，善于揣摩圣意，深得唐玄宗的宠信，权势滔天。朝中大臣，无人不忌惮他三分。李林甫为了巩固自己的地位，不择手段地打压异己，甚至将那些对他稍有不满的大臣都一一清除。一时间，他势焰熏天，无人敢对其有任何非议。然而，李林甫的权势并没有永远持续下去。唐玄宗晚年，渐渐看清了李林甫的真面目，对他感到厌恶。最终，李林甫被罢免官职，郁郁而终。他的故事，成为了后世“势焰熏天”的典型例子，告诫世人，权势再大，也终究难逃因果报应。

huà shuō Táng cháo shíqī, yǒu gè quán qīng zhāoyě de dà chén, míng jiào Lǐ Línfǔ. Tā yīnxǐan jiǎozhà, shàn yú chuāimó shèng yì, shēn dé Táng Xuánzōng de chǒngxìn, quán shì tāotiān. Cháozhōng dà chén, wú rén bù jìdàn tā sān fēn. Lǐ Línfǔ wèile gùgù zìjǐ de dìwèi, bùzé shǒuduàn de dǎyā yìjǐ, shènzhì jiāng nàxiē duì tā shāo yǒu bù mǎn de dà chén dōu yīyī qīngchú. Yīshíjiān, tā shì yàn xūn tiān, wú rén gǎn duì qí yǒu héng fēiyì. Rán'ér, Lǐ Línfǔ de quán shì bìng méiyǒu yǒngyuǎn chíxù xiàqù. Táng Xuánzōng wǎnnián, jiànjiàn kàn qīng le Lǐ Línfǔ de zhēn miànmù, duì tā gǎndào yàn'è. Zuìzhōng, Lǐ Línfǔ bèi bàmiǎn guānzhí, yù yù ér zhōng. Tā de gùshì, chéngle hòushì “shì yàn xūn tiān” de diǎnxíng lìzi, gàojiè shì rén, quán shì zài dà, yě zhōngjiū nántáo yīnguǒ bàoyìng.

During the Tang Dynasty, there was a powerful minister named Li Linfu. He was cunning and scheming, and gained the trust of Emperor Xuanzong. He held immense power, and no one dared to oppose him. To secure his position, he ruthlessly suppressed those who disagreed with him, even eliminating those who showed the slightest displeasure. For a time, he was all-powerful and arrogant, and no one dared to criticize him. However, Li Linfu's power did not last forever. In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong saw through Li Linfu's true nature and grew disgusted with him. Ultimately, Li Linfu was dismissed from his post and died a bitter death. His story became a typical example of "势焰熏天," warning people that even the greatest power will eventually face retribution.

Usage

作谓语、定语；形容势力强大，气焰嚣张。

zuò wèiyǔ, dìngyǔ; xiángróng shìlì qiángdà, qìyàn xiāozhāng.

Used as predicate and attributive; describes great power and arrogance.

Examples

• 他虽然势焰熏天，终究逃不过法律的制裁。

  tā suīrán shì yàn xūn tiān, zhōngjiū táobùguò fǎlǜ de zhìcái.

  Although he was powerful and arrogant, he still could not escape the punishment of the law.

• 这家公司势焰熏天，其他竞争对手都望尘莫及。

  zhè jiā gōngsī shì yàn xūn tiān, qítā jìngzhēng duìshǒu dōu wàngchén wújí.

  This company is so powerful that other competitors are far behind it.

Related Idioms

• 盛气凌人

• 不可一世

Opposite Idioms

• 默默无闻

• 低调行事