To act rashly and alert an opponent, causing them to be cautious or flee.
打草惊了草里的蛇。原比喻惩罚了甲而使乙有所警觉◇多比喻做法不谨慎，反使对方有所戒备。
宋·郑文宝《南唐近事》王鲁为当涂宰，颇以资产为务，会部民连状诉主簿贪贿于县尹。鲁乃判曰‘汝虽打草，吾已惊蛇。’”
The detective avoided questioning the suspect directly to prevent tipping him off, knowing that stirring the grass would scare the snake.
Learn the next connected idiom: 打草惊蛇 (dǎ cǎo jīng shé) → 蛇蝎心肠 (shé xiē xīn cháng)
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