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OldRedneck

(1,397 posts)

12. 騎 虎 難 下

Mon Feb 9, 2015, 04:24 PM

Feb 2015

All languages have pithy sayings, usually understood only by native speakers.

Such as: "Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs."

The Chinese have a zillion or so "cheng-yu" -- four-word phrases that are complete in their imagery and meaning.

This one comes to mind: 騎虎難下

Literally translated, it says: "Ride tiger, difficult down"

Or:

"He who rides the tiger finds it dangerous to dismount."

"He who rides the tiger can never dismount."

"Riding the tiger, it is difficult to dismount."

The GOP and their Frankenstein monster Tea Party come to mind.

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Filibuster oldlib2 Feb 2015 #1

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Welcome to DU, oldlib2! calimary Feb 2015 #5

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騎 虎 難 下 OldRedneck Feb 2015 #12

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I read the last quoted sentence as: mindwalker_i Feb 2015 #13

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