卸磨殺驢 xiè mò shā lǘ

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. to kill the donkey when the grinding is done (idiom)
  2. to get rid of sb once he has ceased to be useful

CHARACTERS

卸 xiè lay down; retire from office
磨 mò grind; polish; rub; wear out; a millstone
殺 shā kill, slaughter, murder; hurt; to pare off, reduce, clip
驢 lǘ donkey, ass