与虎谋皮

古时候，东周地方有一个人，特别爱穿皮衣，爱吃珍异的美味。

有一次，他想弄一点美味的羊肉作祭品，于是便跑到山上，跟一只又肥又大的绵羊商量：“我想借你身上的肉去祭神，你肯吗？”

这只绵羊一听，吓得“咩咩”叫着跑进密林深处躲藏起来。这个人只好两手空空地回家去了。

又过了些时候，他又想做一件价值千金的狐狸皮袍子，就跑进深山老林里，找到一只狐狸，跟它商量：“你能不能把皮剥下来，给我做一件皮袍子呢？”

这只狐狸一听，吓得掉了魂，掉头一溜烟跑得无影无踪。这个人只好叹口气，又无可奈何地回家去了。

以后，人们把这个故事演化成“与虎谋皮”这个成语。现在多用来比喻跟所谋求的对象有利害冲突，绝不能成功。

To ask the tiger for its skin — To request evil or selfish persons to act against their own interests

The original version was Yu Hu Mou Pi — “to ask the fox for its fur”.

Long ago there lived a man who did everything out of wishful thinking.  One day, he wanted a fur-lined jacket.  He heard that a jacket made with fox’s fur was light and warm.  So he went into the forest to look for a fox.

When he found one, he said to him, “Mr. fox, I want to use your fur to make a nice light, warm jacket.  Could you do me the favor of giving me your skin?” On hearing this, the fox ran away at once, thinking, “Oh dear!  If my skin was peeled off, I would surely die, and be very cold in the winter? It’s really unthinkable!” The man didn’t get the skin he wanted, and went back home.

From that fable, people drew the idiom Yu Hu Mou Pi.  It’s original meaning was to tell people that if they have a conflict of interest with the owner of the object they seek, they cannot achieve their goal.

Over the centuries, people changed 狐—“fox” to 虎—“tiger” which is more violent and fiercer and the phrase sounds more wishful and obviously impossible.  So the idiom becomes Yu Hu Mou Pi.  Yu Hu Mou Pi means to request evil or selfish persons to act against their own interests, which, of course, is a waste of time.

(Source:english.cri.cn)