Speak Chinese to me

I was listening to The World's Technology Podcast on my way to work this morning and heard a Chinese guy use the best phrase.

I mean, it was one of the greatest phrases of all time. I am going to integrate it into my vernacular immediately.

He said: "It's just killing the chicken to scare the monkeys."

I love it.

I know what you are thinking. You are saying to yourself, "Self, we need this useful word picture in our vocabulary just like Dave. But, how can we use it?"

Here are some suggestions:

Teachers - There are a group of kids running through the library. Grab the slowest one as he flurries past and give him a stern lecture and perhaps even a scare (like: "Run in the library again and it's your lunchtime gone tomorrow!") The example you made of this young man in front of his peers has just killed the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Parents - On arriving home from work, just grab the nearest kid (preferably one of your own) and give a swift swat to the behind whilst stating loudly, "That's for the lot of ya! I know you've been up to no good!" You've just killed the chicken to scare the monkeys.

Kids - You are at the zoo. The marmosets are screeching and leaping at the cage and generally taunting you. Go to the bird enclosure, grab a chicken, come back and shout at the monkeys, "HEY, watch this you bunch of larrikins!" Then, rip the chicken's head off. And kids, you've just made the proverbial literal...

Editors – umm… hmm… can’t think of an illustration for you. Just keep up the good work.

So, anyway, there's a great phrase. And it calls to be used and abused.

I've gotta go... There are monkeys to scare.