Symbolic in idioms

IN many Chinese idioms, the tiger is symbolic of something powerful and dangerous. In metaphors, the Chinese view this beast, which is regarded as the Lord of the Jungle, as having “authority”. Hence tigers are respected and even revered.

The Pig may be the secret friend of the Tiger but Chinese idioms put the Pig in a bad light. He is supposedly timid but can turn the tables on the Tiger and “eat” (betray) him up! Thus the idiom, “disguise as a pig in order to eat the tiger” (Ban zhu chi lao hu).