指鹿为马(指鹿爲馬)

Pronunciation: zhǐ lù wéi mǎ Literal meaning: Point deer call horse

Origin & Usage

This idiom references the historical incident where someone pointed at (指) a deer (鹿) and called it (为) a horse (马), originating from the Qin Dynasty. Historical records recount how powerful minister Zhao Gao tested his influence by leading a deer into court and calling it a horse, executing officials who contradicted him. The incident demonstrated how power could distort reality through enforced consensus. During the Han Dynasty, historians used it to describe the dangerous period of ministerial overreach after the First Emperor's death. Unlike terms for simple deception, it specifically describes deliberately misrepresenting reality as a display of power, forcing others to accept obvious falsehoods. Modern usage describes situations where institutional power compels acknowledgment of manifest untruths.

When to Use

Situation: The corrupt official deliberately misrepresented facts to protect his allies

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