树倒猢狲散

树倒猢狲散

Literally means:

when the tree falls, all the monkeys scatter

Actually means:

when an influential person falls from power, his followers disperse all at once

猢狲 refers to a monkey. 散 means "scatter" or "disperse".

The phrase means that when the tree falls, the monkeys on it will scatter.

It metaphorically describes that when the chief falls from power, his hangers-on will disperse all at once. The chief is often a powerful or influential person. Derogatory.

猢狲，猴子。散，散开，各自离开。

树倒猢狲散，大树倒了，住在树上的猴子都离开了。

比喻核心人物倒台了，依附他的人随即离开了他。这个核心人物通常是有权有势的人。具有贬义色彩。