虎の威を借る狐

Reading

Kana: とらのいをかるきつね

Romaji: toranoiwokarukitsune

Definition

exp

1

person who swaggers about under borrowed authority; small man acting arrogantly through borrowed authority; a fox that borrows the authority of a tiger

Note: idiomatic expression

Kanji

虎

Readings: コ、 とら

Meanings: tiger, drunkard

威

Readings: イ、 おど.す、 おど.し、 おど.かす

Meanings: intimidate, dignity, majesty, menace, threaten

借

Readings: シャク、 か.りる

Meanings: borrow, rent

狐

Readings: コ、 きつね

Meaning: fox