虎头蛇尾 start strong, finish weak
Explanation
比喻开始时声势很大，后来劲头很小，有始无终。
To describe something that starts with great momentum but quickly loses steam and remains unfinished.
Origin Story
话说清朝时期，有个贪官叫李卫，他表面上正气凛然，经常向皇上夸夸其谈整顿吏治。有一次，皇上要他彻查湖南贪污案，李卫立刻兴师动众，大张旗鼓地展开调查，甚至还抓捕了几位小官员杀鸡儆猴，一时之间，朝野震动。然而，随着时间的推移，李卫的查案热情逐渐消退，最终不了了之，不了了之，不了了之。 这件轰轰烈烈的反贪行动，最终却虎头蛇尾，不了了之，不了了之，不了了之，成为了一场闹剧。百姓们纷纷议论，感慨贪官的嘴脸，也对朝廷的整治决心产生了质疑。这则故事告诫后人，做事要坚持到底，不能虎头蛇尾。
During the Qing Dynasty, there was a corrupt official named Li Wei, who often boasted to the emperor about his uprightness and plans to fight corruption. Once, the emperor ordered him to thoroughly investigate a corruption case in Hunan. Li Wei immediately launched a grand investigation, arresting some low-ranking officials to make an example of them. For a time, the whole country was shocked. However, as time went on, Li Wei's zeal gradually faded, and he eventually dropped the matter. This high-profile anti-corruption campaign ended up being half-hearted and ultimately unsuccessful, becoming a farce. The people discussed the matter and questioned the court's determination to reform. This story warns against starting strong but finishing weak.
Usage
形容做事起初声势很大，后来劲头很小，有始无终。
Used to describe something that initially starts with great momentum, but then quickly loses steam and remains unfinished.
Examples
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他做事虎头蛇尾，总是半途而废。
ta zuòshì hǔtóushéwěi, zǒngshì bàntú'érfèi.
He does things in a half-hearted way, always giving up halfway.
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这场运动虎头蛇尾，最终不了了之。
zhè chǎng yùndòng hǔtóushéwěi, zuìzhōng bùliǎoliǎozhī.
This movement ended without result, a classic case of starting strong and finishing weak.