The tiger is a ferocious animal which lives in the mountains. only by luring it away from the mountains, can one subdue it.
This idiom is used metaphorically to mean enticing an enemy away from his safe haven in order to put him at a disadvantage.
东汉末期,北边羌人叛乱。朝廷派虞诩平定叛乱,虞诩的部队在陈仓崤谷一带受到羌人阻截。这时,羌人士气正旺,又占据有利地势,虞诩不能强攻,又不能绕道,真是进退两难。虞诩决定骗羌人离开坚固的据点,他命令部队停止前进,就地扎营。对外散布行军受阻,向朝延请派增援部队。羌人见虞诩已停止前进,等待增援部队,就放松了戒备,纷纷离开据点,到附近劫掠财物去了。
虞诩见敌人离开了据点,下令部队急行军,日夜兼程,每日超过百里,通过山谷。他命令在急行军时,沿途增加灶的数量,今日增灶,明日增灶,敌人误以为朝廷援军已到,自己的力量又已经分散,不敢轻易出击。虞诩顺利地通过陈仓崤谷,转入外线作战,羌人在时间和空间上都转入被动局面,不久羌人叛乱被平定。
调虎离山 (diào hǔ lí shān)
【翻 译】lure the tiger out of the mountains; lure the enemy away from his base.
【解 释】设法使老虎离开原来的山冈。比喻用计使对方离开原来的地方,以便乘机行事。
【例 句】他和众将商议,定出了一条调虎离山的妙计。
【近义词】声东击西、围魏救赵