虎頭蛇尾 hǔ tóu shé wěi

DEFINITIONS

  1. lit. tiger's head, snake's tail (idiom); fig. a strong start but weak finish

CHARACTERS

虎 hǔ tiger; brave, fierce; surname
頭 tóu head; top; chief, first; boss
蛇 shé snake
尾 wěi tail, extremity; end, stern