执牛耳

执牛耳:

Literally means:

hold the bull ear

Actually means:

执, hold; 牛耳, the bull ear.

In ancient times, when a summit conference is held among different countries, the chairman presiding over the confer ence held a plate that contained a newly cut bull ear and people present at the conference applied the bull blood on their lips. This phrase figuratively refers to take the lead, ruling the roost in some field. Commendatory.

执，拿；牛耳，牛的耳朵。

执牛耳，在古代各国国君举行盟会时，要割下牛的耳朵放在盘子里，由主持盟会的人（即盟主）拿着盘子（即执牛耳），让参加盟会的人用牛血涂在嘴巴上。比喻在某一方面居于领导地位。具有褒义色彩。