窮鼠猫を噛む

Meaning

1. expv5m
   a cornered rat will bite a cat; despair gives courage to a coward

Example sentences

• 「そんなに舐められた相手じゃないけどなぁ・・・」「そうだよ、窮鼠猫を噛むって言うじゃないか」

  "I don't think she's an opponent you can ignore like that ..." "That's right, they say a cornered rat bites back, don't they?"

• 窮鼠猫を噛む。

  A cornered rat will bite a cat.

• あいつ追いつめられたら何するか分からないぞ。窮鼠猫を噛むってこともあるからな。気を付けるに越したことはない。

  I wouldn't push him too far. You don't know what he might do. I'd say you can't be too careful. They say even a doomed mouse will bite a cat if he has no choice.