抱头鼠窜 bào tóu shǔ cuàn flee in panic

Explanation

这个成语形容人因害怕或失败而狼狈地逃跑。它源于中国古代的历史故事，强调了在面临危险或失败时，要保持冷静，采取有效的措施，而不是盲目地逃窜。

This idiom describes how someone runs away in a panic due to fear or failure. It originates from an ancient Chinese historical story, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm and taking effective measures when facing danger or failure, rather than fleeing blindly.

Origin Story

战国时期，齐国有一位名叫田单的将军，他带领着齐军与强大的燕国军队作战。由于实力悬殊，齐军节节败退，眼看着就要被燕军消灭。这时，田单想出了一个计策，他命令士兵们将城里的所有牛羊都赶到城外，并用红布将牛羊的尾巴系起来，然后让士兵们躲在城里。燕军看到齐军慌慌张张地把牛羊赶出城，以为齐国人已经放弃了抵抗，便兴高采烈地冲进城里。就在燕军快要攻破城门的时候，田单突然命令士兵们点燃火把，将绑着红布的牛羊赶向燕军。燕军被突如其来的牛羊吓得惊慌失措，抱头鼠窜，最终被齐军打得大败而逃。田单以少胜多，最终保住了齐国。

zhàn guó shí qí, qí guó yǒu yī wèi jìng míng tián dān de jiāng jūn, tā dài ling zhe qí jūn yǔ qiáng dà de yàn guó jūn duì zhàn zhàn. yóu yú shí lì xuán shū, qí jūn jié jié bài tuì, yǎn kàn zhe jiù yào bèi yàn jūn miè diē. zhè shí, tián dān xiǎng chū le yī ge jì cè, tā mìng lìng bīng shì men jiāng chéng lǐ de suǒ yǒu niú yáng dōu gǎn dào chéng wài, bìng yòng hóng bù jiāng niú yáng de wěi ba xiè qǐ lái, rán hòu ràng bīng shì men duǒ zài chéng lǐ. yàn jūn kàn dào qí jūn huāng huāng zhāng zhāng de bǎ niú yáng gǎn chū chéng, yǐ wéi qí guó rén yǐ jīng fàng qì le dǐ kàng, biàn xìng gāo cǎi liè de chōng jìn chéng lǐ. jiù zài yàn jūn kuài yào gōng pò chéng mén de shí hòu, tián dān tū rán mìng lìng bīng shì men diǎn rán huǒ bǎ, jiāng bǎng zhe hóng bù de niú yáng gǎn xiàng yàn jūn. yàn jūn bèi tú rú lái de niú yáng xià de jīng huāng shī cuò, bào tóu shǔ cuàn, zuì zhōng bèi qí jūn dǎ de dà bài ér táo. tián dān yǐ shǎo shèng duō, zuì zhōng bǎo zhù le qí guó.

During the Warring States Period in China, there was a general from Qi named Tian Dan. He led the Qi army to fight against the powerful Yan army. Due to the disparity in strength, the Qi army was defeated and was about to be destroyed by the Yan army. At this time, Tian Dan came up with a strategy. He ordered his soldiers to drive all the cattle and sheep in the city outside the city, and tie their tails with red cloth, and then let the soldiers hide in the city. The Yan army saw that the Qi army was in a panic and drove the cattle and sheep out of the city, thinking that the people of Qi had given up resistance, so they rushed into the city with glee. Just as the Yan army was about to break through the city gate, Tian Dan suddenly ordered his soldiers to light torches and drive the cattle and sheep tied with red cloth towards the Yan army. The Yan army was terrified by the sudden appearance of cattle and sheep, fled in panic, and was eventually defeated by the Qi army. Tian Dan won with a small force against a larger one, and finally saved the state of Qi.

Usage

这个成语常用来形容敌人或失败者逃跑时的狼狈不堪，也用来比喻一个人在遇到困难时，惊慌失措，没有勇气面对。

zhè ge chéng yǔ cháng yòng lái xíng róng dí rén huò shī bài zhě táo pǎo shí de láng bèi bù kān, yě yòng lái bǐ yù yī ge rén zài yù dào kùn nan shí, jīng huāng shī cuò, méi yǒu yǒng qì miàn duì.

This idiom is often used to describe the embarrassment of enemies or losers when fleeing, and it is also used to describe a person who panics when encountering difficulties and does not have the courage to face them.

Examples

• 面对强大的对手，他们只能抱头鼠窜，毫无还手之力。

  miàn duì qiáng dà de duì shǒu, tā men zhǐ néng bào tóu shǔ cuàn, hú wú huán shǒu zhī lì.

  Faced with a powerful opponent, they could only flee in panic, powerless to fight back.

• 当谎言被揭穿后，那些造谣者只好抱头鼠窜，逃之夭夭。

  dāng huǎng yán bèi jiē chuān hòu, nà xiē zào yáo zhě zhǐ hǎo bào tóu shǔ cuàn, táo zhī tiāo tiāo.

  When the lies were exposed, the slanderers could only flee in panic, escaping.

Related Idioms

• 仓皇失措

• 落荒而逃

Opposite Idioms

• 泰然自若

• 从容不迫