出处：按学科分类—语言、文字 中国对外翻译出版公司《汉英成语词典》第202页（253字）
指不能激怒群众，例那流氓还想动手动脚，过路人已按捺不住齐声喝打，流氓见众怒难犯，只好悻悻地住手离去。
When the ruffians were on the point of attack，the people on the road shouted“hit back”and knowing the danger of incurring public wrath，they pulled back．