借刀杀人 jiè dāo shā rén

to get sb else to do one's dirty work

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to get sb else to do one's dirty work
  2. 2. to attack using the strength of another (idiom)
  3. 3. to lend sb a knife to kill sb

Characters

Character Meaning
借 jiè HSK 3
to borrow; to lend; by means of
刀 dāo HSK 4
knife; blade; classifier for knife cuts or stabs
杀 shā HSK 5
to kill; to attack; to weaken or reduce
人 rén HSK 1
person; people; man