"Yi qiu zhi he" literally means "jackals on the same hill," he being a beast similar to a fox. This idiom comes from the Book of Han: The Biography of Yang Yun. Yang Yun once used the phrase "the ancient and the modern are like jackals on the same hill" to satirize that foolish rulers of ancient and modern times were no different. Later, it came to be used as a metaphor meaning that people are of the same kind, carrying a derogatory sense and emphasizing that there is no essential difference among people of the same sort. It often refers to bad people colluding with one another and sharing the same foul tastes. It is commonly used in criticism, satire, or exposure of certain people's misconduct and complicity, for example, in accusing corrupt officials, lawbreakers, or people of vile character. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the sharp distinction between good and evil, purity and impurity, in traditional Chinese culture, as well as criticism of factional self-seeking. In emotional coloring, this idiom carries a strong sense of condemnation and contempt, and when used, it often expresses disdain for and denunciation of a certain type of person.
📝 Example
These two corrupt officials cover up for each other and collude in wrongdoing—they are truly birds of a feather. (A metaphor meaning they are the same kind of bad people.)
Those who fabricate rumors and those who spread them are birds of a feather—both are damaging the online environment. (Meaning they belong to the same category of harmful elements.)