"Calling a Deer a Horse" comes from the Records of the Grand Historian: Basic Annals of Qin Shi Huang, which records how Zhao Gao deliberately called a deer a horse in front of Qin Er Shi to test the loyalty of the assembled ministers; those who did not comply were all framed. On the surface, this idiom refers to reversing black and white and confounding right and wrong, while its deeper meaning refers to deliberately distorting facts and using power to suppress the truth. It is often used to describe those in power who use tactics to distort the truth and force others into submission. It is mostly used in contexts such as political struggles, workplace bullying, or social injustice, and carries a strong derogatory and critical tone. In terms of cultural background, it reflects the complex political ecology of ancient China, in which powerful ministers abused their authority and loyal and treacherous officials struggled against one another, and it also warns people to distinguish right from wrong and uphold the truth. In emotional coloring, it expresses indignation at and satire of tyranny and the reversal of right and wrong.
📝 Example
1. The company leadership, despite declining performance, insisted that the situation was excellent—this was simply calling a stag a horse, leaving employees angry but afraid to speak out. (Referring to deliberately distorting facts and confusing right and wrong.)
2. In court, the defendant's lawyer tried to call a stag a horse by claiming that clear evidence was forged, but the judge ultimately saw through it. (Referring to reversing black and white and resorting to sophistry.)