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Synonyms

tiger by the tail

Idioms  
  1. Something too difficult to manage or cope with, as in You know nothing about the commodities market; you'll end up catching a tiger by the tail. This colorful metaphor conjures up the image of grabbing a powerful but fierce animal by the tail, only to have it turn on one. [Second half of 1900s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“When I graduated from school, I felt like I had the tiger by the tail; I could do almost anything,” Braugher told Variety in 2020.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2023

“I told Kevin, ‘You know you got a tiger by the tail here.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 20, 2022

"They just grabbed a tiger by the tail, and they don't know what to do with it."

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2014

Developing a devoted fan base may seem like the endgame for any producer of pop culture, but one false move can make it seem like having a tiger by the tail.

From Time • Feb. 24, 2012

Tangling with Tate was more difficult: Shultz soon realized he had a tiger by the tail.

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

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