the water buffalo(which dreads the heat of summer) panting at the sight of the moon (mistaking it for the sun)-fear of a thing owing to mistaking it for sth else; undue fear before sth rarely seen
❍ 奋答曰： “臣犹吴牛，见月而喘。(刘义庆《世说新语·言语》) Fen answered，“Your servant is like the water buffaloes of Wu which pant when they see the moon.”
吴牛喘月wu niu chuan yue
Wu buffalo would pant at the sight of the moon—have excessive fear due to suspicion
吴牛喘月wú niú chuǎn yuè
吴牛：指江浙一带的水牛。江浙一带的水牛怕热，见到月亮以为是太阳而发喘。比喻因疑心而害怕。have an excessive fear of, fear of one thing due to mistaking it for sth. else