tiger by the tail

Idioms and Phrases

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

“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

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

From Los Angeles Times

I think the left is realizing they have a tiger by the tail.

From Washington Times

“We got a chance to get a Tiger by the tail,” Pough joked.

From Seattle Times

“This is like having a tiger by the tail, you know, when you say yes to hosting the Games. You actually have very limited possibilities of stripping down cost” because the majority of the business decisions are made by the IOC and international athletics organizations, Flyvbjerg said.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• craving
• craze
• craziness
• enthusiasm
• fad
• fascination
• frenzy
• infatuation
• lunacy
• obsession
• passion
• rage