have a tiger by the tail

Related to have a tiger by the tail: not a chance

have (got) a tiger by the tail

To be involved with someone or something that is powerful and could become troublesome or threatening. Now that I have to work closely with the CEO on this project, I feel like I have a tiger by the tail.

See also: by, have, tail, tiger

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

have a tiger by the tail

and have got a tiger by the tail; have a bear by the tail

Fig. to have become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous; to have a very difficult problem to solve. You have a tiger by the tail. You bit off more than you could chew. You've had a bear by the tail ever since you agreed to finish that big project.

See also: by, have, tail, tiger

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

have (or catch) a tiger by the tail

= ride a tiger.

A similar difficulty confronts those who have a wolf by the ears (see wolf).

1979 Peter Driscoll Pangolin You're taking on an organization with reserves you know nothing about. How do you know you won't be catching a tiger by the tail?

See also: by, have, tail, tiger

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

have a tiger by the tail

tv. to have become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous. (Have got can replace have.) You have a tiger by the tail. You bit off more than you could chew.

See also: by, have, tail, tiger

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

tiger by the tail, to have a

To take on something that turns out to be too formidable or difficult. This term, with its vivid image of manually catching a wild beast that rewards one with violent thrashing about (or worse), replaced the earlier catch a Tartar, used from 1663 to the late nineteenth century. Emma Lathen wrote, in Murder Without Icing (1972), “The Sloan Guaranty Trust . . . might well have a tiger by the tail,” alluding to an impossible investment.

词组	have a tiger by the tail
释义	have a tiger by the tail Related to have a tiger by the tail: not a chance have (got) a tiger by the tail To be involved with someone or something that is powerful and could become troublesome or threatening. Now that I have to work closely with the CEO on this project, I feel like I have a tiger by the tail. See also: by, have, tail, tiger Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. have a tiger by the tail and have got a tiger by the tail; have a bear by the tail Fig. to have become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous; to have a very difficult problem to solve. You have a tiger by the tail. You bit off more than you could chew. You've had a bear by the tail ever since you agreed to finish that big project. See also: by, have, tail, tiger McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. have (or catch) a tiger by the tail = ride a tiger. A similar difficulty confronts those who have a wolf by the ears (see wolf). 1979 Peter Driscoll Pangolin You're taking on an organization with reserves you know nothing about. How do you know you won't be catching a tiger by the tail? See also: by, have, tail, tiger Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary have a tiger by the tail tv. to have become associated with something powerful and potentially dangerous. (Have got can replace have.) You have a tiger by the tail. You bit off more than you could chew. See also: by, have, tail, tiger McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions tiger by the tail, to have a To take on something that turns out to be too formidable or difficult. This term, with its vivid image of manually catching a wild beast that rewards one with violent thrashing about (or worse), replaced the earlier catch a Tartar, used from 1663 to the late nineteenth century. Emma Lathen wrote, in Murder Without Icing (1972), “The Sloan Guaranty Trust . . . might well have a tiger by the tail,” alluding to an impossible investment. See also: by, have, tiger The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer See also: catch a tiger by the tail blame for blame for (something) blamed conspire with (someone) against (something or someone) the blame for (something) chain of command pilfer pilfer from pilfer from (someone or something)
随便看	wish on (someone or something) wish somebody/something well wish someone joy wish (someone or something) off on (someone or something else) wish the ground would open up and swallow (one) wish the ground would swallow (one) up wish upon wishy wishy-washy wisp wit witch witcha witch hunt witching witching hour with with a bang with a capital with a capital A, B, C, etc. with a capital A/B/C, etc. with a capital (some letter) with a difference with advance notice with a fine-tooth comb