7 Unique Tiger-Related Expressions from Around the World

It’s the Year of the Tiger! This majestic, striped creature is one of the most recognizable animals in the world. The tiger radiates strength, power and bravery. Small wonder that they appear so often as symbols, even deities, in the ancient myths, folklore and stories of different countries.

To celebrate our regal friends, we’ve collected our favorite tiger-related expressions from cultures around the world. 

Escaped from a crocodile’s mouth, entered a tiger’s mouth
Can you think of a more awkward situation? No thanks to this type of acquaintance with either animal! This expression is equivalent to “out of the frying pan, into the fire.” You’ve escaped from one terrible situation only to find yourself in a worse one.

If you do not enter the tiger’s cave, you will not catch its cub
The meaning of this expression is similar to “no pain, no gain.” If you want to achieve anything worthwhile, you’ll have to put in the effort first — even if it means enduring anxiety, risks and a bit of hardship.

The tiger comes when you mention it
This is used when someone appears who has just been the subject of conversation. You may also recognize its English equivalent, “speak of the devil.” Hey, in this case, it doesn’t sound so bad to be the tiger.

It is hard to dismount a tiger
In a challenging situation, sometimes your best strategy is to continue on rather than to stop. This idiom comes from the story of a minister who became regent to an inexperienced emperor during the Northern Zhou dynasty. When the minister fretted over the decline of the ruling dynasty, his wife used the expression to urge him to persist. He did just that and successfully founded the next imperial dynasty.

A tiger, however hungry he might be, won’t eat grass
One’s nature cannot be changed or overcome simply because of circumstances. No matter what, you’re sticking to your original principles. This expression can be used positively to describe conviction or negatively to describe stubbornness.

There aren’t any donkeys with rheumatism when there’s a tiger around
This is used to describe a “survival of the fittest” situation. When true danger arrives on the scene, isn’t it funny how all of one’s former excuses and hesitations suddenly vanish?

It is better to live for one day as a tiger than to live for a thousand years as a sheep
You may have heard different variations of this expression. Symbolically, the tiger is seen as fierce and brave, leaping into action whenever needed. On the other hand, the sheep takes fewer risks, and lives a calm, peaceful long life — but is this unremarkable type of life worth it?