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226页（250字）
先讲道理，迫不得已才使用武力或压力，例他们打算先礼后兵，再写一封信去交涉，对方如果仍旧置之不理，他们就告上法庭去。
They are planning to take strong measure if the second letter they have written to them remains unanswered．At the worst，they will go to court．