虚晃一枪 xū huàng yī qiāng feigned attack

Explanation

指故意做出进攻的样子，实际上是为了迷惑敌人，达到某种目的的策略。

Refers to a strategy in which an attack is intentionally feigned to deceive the enemy and achieve a certain goal.

Origin Story

话说三国时期，蜀汉名将赵云奉命率军前往支援刘备。途中遭遇曹军埋伏，曹军兵力众多，赵云寡不敌众。情急之下，赵云命令士兵们擂鼓呐喊，做出正面冲击的态势，虚张声势，让曹军误以为蜀军主力已到。趁着曹军犹豫不决的时机，赵云率领精兵从侧翼绕过曹军，成功突围，最终与刘备会合。此战，赵云运用虚晃一枪之计，以少胜多，化解了危机，堪称经典战例。

huà shuō sān guó shí qī, shǔ hàn míng jiàng zhào yún fèng mìng shuài jūn qián wǎng zhī yuán liú bèi. tú zhōng zāo yù cáo jūn mái fú, cáo jūn bīng lì zhòng duō, zhào yún guǎ bù dí zhòng. qíng jí zhī xià, zhào yún mìng lìng bīng shì men léi gǔ nà hǎn, zuò chū zhèng miàn chōng jī de tài shì, xū zhāng shēng shì, ràng cáo jūn wù yǐ shǔ jūn zhǔ lì yǐ dào. chèn zhe cáo jūn yóu yù bù jué de shí jī, zhào yún shuài lǐng jīng bīng cóng cè yì rào guò cáo jūn, chénggōng tū wéi, zuì zhōng yǔ liú bèi huì hé. cǐ zhàn, zhào yún yòng yùn xū huàng yī qiāng zhī jì, yǐ shǎo shèng duō, huà jiě le wēi jī, kān chēng jīng diǎn zhàn lì.

During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhao Yun, a famous general of Shu Han, was ordered to lead his troops to support Liu Bei. On the way, he encountered an ambush by Cao's army. Cao's army was outnumbered, and Zhao Yun was outnumbered. In a moment of urgency, Zhao Yun ordered his soldiers to beat drums and shout, creating the appearance of a frontal assault, to bluff Cao's army into thinking that the main force of Shu had arrived. Taking advantage of the moment when Cao's army was hesitant and indecisive, Zhao Yun led his elite troops around Cao's army from the flank, successfully breaking through the encirclement, and eventually uniting with Liu Bei. In this battle, Zhao Yun used the tactic of a feigned attack, defeating the superior forces with fewer troops, resolving the crisis, and becoming a classic battle example.

Usage

作谓语、宾语、定语；指用计；虚张声势，迷惑敌人。

zuò wèiyǔ, bǐnyǔ, dìngyǔ; zhǐ yòng jì; xū zhāng shēng shì, mí huò dírén.

As predicate, object, attributive; refers to a strategy; to bluff and deceive the enemy.

Examples

  • 面对敌人的猛攻，他虚晃一枪，成功撤退。

    miàn duì dírén de měng gōng, tā xū huàng yī qiāng, chénggōng tuì chè.

    Faced with the enemy's fierce attack, he feigned a strike and successfully retreated.

  • 谈判中，他虚晃一枪，争取了更多的时间。

    tán pán zhōng, tā xū huàng yī qiāng, zhēngqǔ le gèng duō de shíjiān

    During the negotiation, he made a feint, buying more time for himself.

Related Idioms

  • 声东击西

  • 调虎离山

Opposite Idioms

  • 全力进攻

  • 正面冲突