狐假虎威 (hú jiǎ hǔ wēi): lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might ; fig. to use powerful connections to intimidate people

jiǎwēi

lit. the fox exploits the tiger's might ; fig. to use powerful connections to intimidate people

The fox walked ahead of the tiger and took the fear as his own. For borrowed authority.

The same saying in Japanese: