上楼去梯 — “To lure someone into a trap and then abandon them”

上楼去梯 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to lure someone into a trap and then abandon them”. Or to remove their means of retreat after getting them into a vulnerable position, often implying a treacherous act or secret plotting. Literally, “Go upstairs and remove the ladder”.

Frequency

上楼去梯 Pronunciation and Pinyin

上楼去梯 Character Breakdown

Stroke Order

Character	Pinyin	Strokes	Meaning
上	shàng	3	up, above, on, previous, ascend
楼	lóu	13	multi-story building or floor
去	qù	5	to go, leave, or remove
梯	tī	11	ladder, stairs, or elevator

Example Sentence with 上楼去梯

他们先是甜言蜜语地劝他加入项目，等他投入所有资金后，却上楼去梯，让他独自承担所有风险。

They first sweet-talked him into joining the project, but after he invested all his capital, they removed the ladder, leaving him to bear all the risks alone.

Origin and Story of 上楼去梯

During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Biao granted Xinye to Liu Bei, tasking him with defending against Cao Cao.

At the same time, Liu Biao planned for his second son, Liu Cong, to inherit his position, which made his eldest son, Liu Qi, feel his situation was precarious.

Liu Qi invited Zhuge Liang to dine in a high building in his private garden, and ordered his servants to remove the ladder. He humbly sought Zhuge Liang's advice for his predicament.

Zhuge Liang advised Liu Qi to take the position of Governor of Jiangxia to escape the danger.