强龙不压地头蛇qiáng lóng bù yā dì tóu shéeven a mighty dragon should not attack a serpent in its lair—a formidable gangster chieftain cannot overbear (/slight) the local bully
❍ 自古道～。(孔尚任《桃花扇·赚将》)There’s a proverb:“Even a mighty dragon should not attack a serpent in its lair.” 强龙不压地头蛇qiang long bu ya di tou shea powerful dragon cannot crush a snake in its old haunts—even a powerful man cannot crush a local bully |