A Tiger By The Tail: Meaning & Origin Revealed

To have a tiger by the tail is a complicated situation. The phrase refers to something that may be more dangerous or difficult to escape from or uncomfortable to continue. It can also mean that you have your hands on something that is much more powerful than you know or understand.

It’s a stressful situation all around. Can you picture it? You are holding a tiger by the tail. If it gets out of your grip, it might attack you, and if you let it go, it might attack you, so you just have to keep holding onto it as tight as you can for as long as you can. It sounds quite unpleasant!

Origins of the Phrase “A Tiger By The Tail”

Some believe that the phrase originates from a Chinese proverb with a similar meaning that states “He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount.” This brings up a similar image of someone encountering a powerful beast but having to stay in uncomfortable control of it. The phrase first showed up in written English in the 1870s.

Examples of Everyday Use of “A Tiger By The Tail”

For the most part, you would use this phrase in conjunction with the word catch or have. For example, you would say “catch a tiger by the tail” or “have a tiger by the tail.” It is often used in business situations to describe people who are getting into situations that might be over their heads. For example, if someone is getting into a new industry they don’t know anything about, and acting like it’s going to be a breeze, you might tell them, “be careful of getting in over your head” or “you might be catching a tiger by the tail.”

You can also use it to describe someone who is getting into a match with a fierce competitor, whether in business, sports, or something else entirely.

A Useful Way to Illustrate the Phrase “A Tiger By The Tail”

The following is a fictional story that can help you envision the phrase “a tiger by the tail.”

Imagine that your friend is an amateur wrestler, but they won a contest to do a wrestling match with their favorite wrestling star. To you, it’s clear that the point of the match is to see an amateur wrestler get completely beaten by a star, but your friend thinks they may really have a chance to win. You might warn them “Be careful, you’ve really got a tiger by the tail with this situation!” to let them know it might be more than they bargained for.

A Real-Life Example from Forbes

In 2019, an article on the Forbes website discussed how a small Australian company working with rare earth metals in Greenland called Greenland Minerals was attracting the attention of both the Chinese and U.S. governments who both wanted access to those minerals. The article mentioned that this small company seemed to have a “tiger by the tail” as even high government officials, including then-president Donald Trump, were talking about getting access to the country’s supply of rare earth metals. The former president even suggested that the U.S. simply buy Greenland from Denmark, a remark which may have stemmed from this company’s valuable work.

What Are the Possible Pros and Cons of the Phrase “A Tiger By The Tail”

While this phrase is not very problematic, some may become offended simply because many people have to learn lessons for themselves and do not like being told they could be getting into something that they don’t fully understand. So, if you use this phrase with someone, understand they may not take your advice to heart.

However, “a tiger by the tail” is a great way to let someone know that they might be biting off more than they can chew, or that they might need to think further about their situation before they make a move.

Similar Phrases to “A Tiger By The Tail”

There are several idioms with a similar, but not exactly the same, meaning as catching “a tiger by the tail” including:

• Playing with fire
• In over your head
• Biting off more than you can chew
• Flying too close to the sun
• Poking a bear
• Skating on thin ice

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Ondrej Prosicky