# 打草惊蛇

dǎ cǎo jīng shé

Alert someone before you are ready to act

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Beat the grass and startle the snake

**Traditional Chinese:** 打草驚蛇

**Register:** Cautious · general

[Choices & judgment](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/decisions)

## When to use it

Warn against exposing a plan prematurely.

Usually concerns an adversary or investigation.

## Understanding the expression

A snake hidden in grass may escape as soon as nearby movement warns it. The image explains why an early, careless action can spoil a larger plan. Modern usage concerns investigations, negotiations, or efforts to catch wrongdoing: the person being watched learns that others are approaching. The phrase values timing and discretion. It does not automatically justify secrecy; its practical point is avoiding a warning before the necessary preparation is complete.

## Examples

先保存证据，别打草惊蛇。

### Traditional Chinese

先保存證據，別打草驚蛇。

xiān bǎo cún zhèng jù ， bié dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。

Save the evidence first and avoid alerting the suspect.

突然询问账目可能会打草惊蛇。

### Traditional Chinese

突然詢問賬目可能會打草驚蛇。

tū rán xún wèn zhàng mù kě néng huì dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。

Sudden questions about the accounts may tip them off.

她没有直接质问，以免打草惊蛇。

### Traditional Chinese

她沒有直接質問，以免打草驚蛇。

tā méi yǒu zhí jiē zhì wèn ， yǐ miǎn dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。

She avoided confronting them directly to prevent alerting them.

调查还没结束，公开消息会打草惊蛇。

### Traditional Chinese

調查還沒結束，公開消息會打草驚蛇。

diào chá hái méi jié shù ， gōng kāi xiāo xī huì dǎ cǎo jīng shé 。

Releasing the news before the investigation ends would warn the suspects.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E6%89%93%E8%8D%89%E9%A9%9A%E8%9B%87)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=55&webMd=1&la=0)

## Keep exploring

- [待价而沽 dài jià ér gū Wait for a favorable offer ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dai-jia-er-gu)

- [当机立断 dāng jī lì duàn Make a prompt decision at the crucial moment ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dang-ji-li-duan)

- [当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí The most pressing task at present ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dang-wu-zhi-ji)

- [倒行逆施 dào xíng nì shī Act perversely against sound principles or progress ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/dao-xing-ni-shi)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 粗枝大叶 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cu-zhi-da-ye) [Next idiom 大腹便便 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-fu-pian-pian)