虎の威を借る狐
とらのいをかるきつね (Tora no i wo karu kitsune)
A fox borrowing the tiger's might / Acting big on someone else's power
例文 1基本の例文
社長の名前を出していばるなんて、虎の威を借る狐だ。
Throwing the president's name around to act big — he's a fox borrowing the tiger's might.
例文 2応用例
家老の名を盾に町人をおどす足軽がいた。虎の威を借る狐だと、町の者は陰で笑った。
A foot soldier threatened townspeople, hiding behind the chief retainer's name. "A fox borrowing the tiger's might," the townspeople laughed behind his back.