色厉内荏 meaning in English
appear to be tough outwardly, be timid inwardly; appear severe, but weak inside; be ferocious in appearance but feeble in essence; be fierce in appearance but faint in heart; be fierce in appearance but weak within [in essence]; be fierce of visage but faint of heart; fierce of mien but faint of heart; outwardly fierce but inwardly shaky; strong looking outside but brittle within; threatening in manner but cowardly at heart
Examples
- Her rudeness is just a front for her shyness .
她色厉内荏。 - The candidate is an ass in the lion ' s skin . he never has the courage to stand up for any courses
那个候选人是个色厉内荏之人，他从来没有勇气为任何事业仗义执言。 - At last ， what they did was opposite to what they wished , and they were laughed at by others
到处“扎根串联” 、拉些并不了解事实真相的学者在自己设计好的“奏折”上签字画押，正是色厉内荏的一种表现。