To make a show of being ready to fight or take action, often implying that one is putting on a display rather than intending to act immediately or decisively; to strike an imposing pose without immediate follow-through.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Tang Dynasty, Han Yu, who lost his parents at a young age, studied diligently under the care of his sister-in-law. At 25, he passed the imperial examination to become a *jinshi*. However, he wasn't immediately assigned to a high-ranking official position and could only serve as a *tuiguan* (an administrative assistant) under Zhang Jian, a military governor.
Once, he accompanied Zhang Jian on a pheasant hunt and spontaneously composed the poem "Pheasant with an Arrow" (雉带箭).
The lines read: "On the plains, the fire hunt is still and silent; wild pheasants, fearing hawks, appear and disappear. The general wishes to subdue people with skill, circling his horse and bending his bow, yet refrains from shooting." This idiom originated from these lines, describing the general's posture of readiness without immediate action.