打死老虎 beat a dead horse
Explanation
比喻打击已经失势的人或势力。
It means to strike someone who has already fallen or to weaken an already weakened force.
Origin Story
从前，在一个偏僻的山村里，住着一只凶猛的老虎。它经常下山危害村民，村民们都对它恨之入骨。有一天，老虎下山觅食，村民们得知消息后，纷纷拿起武器，将老虎围困在一处山谷中。经过一番激烈的搏斗，老虎最终被村民们打死了。消息传开后，村民们都欢欣鼓舞，庆祝他们的胜利。但是，故事并不止于此，老虎被杀后，村长却发现了老虎的死因并非村民们想象的那样，原来老虎是因为在追逐猎物的时候，意外跌落山崖，受了重伤，这才被村民们趁机打死。村长将事情的真相公之于众后，村民们才意识到，他们之前的行为并非英勇，而是落井下石，是一种卑鄙的行为。这个故事告诉我们，对待敌人应该有气度，而不是一味地打压和报复。
Once upon a time, in a remote mountain village, lived a ferocious tiger. It often went down the mountain to harm the villagers, who all hated it deeply. One day, the tiger went down the mountain to hunt for food, and when the villagers heard the news, they picked up their weapons and surrounded the tiger in a mountain valley. After a fierce battle, the tiger was finally killed by the villagers. After the news spread, the villagers rejoiced and celebrated their victory. However, the story doesn't end there. After the tiger was killed, the village chief discovered that the tiger's death was not as the villagers had imagined. It turned out that the tiger had accidentally fallen off a cliff while chasing prey and was seriously injured, so the villagers took the opportunity to kill it. After the village chief made the truth public, the villagers realized that their previous behavior was not heroic but rather cowardly. This story teaches us that we should be magnanimous towards our enemies, rather than simply suppressing and retaliating against them.
Usage
多用于形容打击已经失势的人或势力。
It is used to describe someone who has already fallen or to weaken an already weakened force.
Examples
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他落魄了，有些人便开始打死老虎。
ta luopo le,yixierengebiankaishi dasilaohu.
He's down on his luck, and some people are starting to beat the dead tiger.
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这场斗争，其实就是打死老虎，毫无意义。
zchang douzheng,qishijiushi dasilaohu,hao wuyisi
This fight is actually just beating a dead horse and pointless.