straw boat borrows arrows

The act of using someone's strength against them.

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The term is said to have originated from the Chinese strategist, Zhuge Liang, during the Battle of Red Cliff against the army of Cao Cao.

Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhuge Liang went to visit the Wu camp to assist Wu strategist Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu saw Zhuge Liang as a threat to Eastern Wu and was also jealous of Zhuge Liang's talent. Therefore, he assigned Zhuge Liang the task to make 100,000 arrows in ten days or face execution. Zhuge Liang, however, swore he would finish this seemingly impossible task in three days. He requested 20 large boats, each manned with many straw men and a few soldiers. Before dawn, Zhuge Liang ordered his soldiers to beat war drums and shout orders, to imitate the noise of an attack.

Zhuge Liang sat with Lu Su inside one of the boats drinking wine. The Wei soldiers, unable to see in the fog, fired many volleys of arrows at the sound of the drums. The straw men were soon filled with arrows, and Zhuge Liang returned to Wu having fulfilled his promise.

(Jin blocks Mike's punch to the face, and in seconds brings his friend to the ground)

Jin: Straw boat borrows arrows, eh?
Mike: That's not one of those Chinese proverbs, is it?
Jin: >:)

by seizure_salad January 8, 2010

Burrowhead

The magical place that Cincinnati bengals go when they are on the plane ride home from their AFC Championship game loss.

I can’t wait to go to Burrowhead and watch those two better teams play for the Super Bowl! We can smoke cigars and pretend we did something this year!

by Mayor jabroni January 30, 2023

I borrowed your back brush

A joke. When overnighting at a friend/girlfriend's place and you bathe or shower the next morning,you inform your host that you took the liberty of using their back brush.In most cases,the host will advise you that they don't own a back brush. You then ask,"Well,what is that loop-shaped brush in the container on the bathroom floor?" After they quit laughing,they'll say,"That's the fuckin' toilet brush,dumbass!" Guaranteed giggles every time.

Hey darlin',I hope you don't mind,but,I borrowed your back brush. It was a slice of heaven.

by wolfbait51 May 8, 2011

Barrow Hall College

A ridiculously shit college located in Warrington, ran by a bunch of knob-heads, big-headed and arrogant staff.

I went to Barrow Hall College, how shit was the Music department there?

by Shitschooolioskrrrrr December 27, 2016

Bacon Borrowed

When you "borrow" something edible/consumable without someone's permission, that probably, won't be missed, with no intention of ever, ever, giving it back.

Where did you guys get all these jello shots?

We bacon borrowed them from Hogtown last weekend when we visited them.

by AssTek November 27, 2012

Burrows Patch

Triangle of hair on the lower back of a man

My boyfriend needs to manscap his Burrows patch.

by Cezanne 57 January 20, 2019

Barrowman! *shakes fist*

a relatively new meme, spawned from Never Mind the Buzzcocks Series 23 Episode 12. The presenter, David Tennant (off of Doctor Who) would, after reading out an innuendo-based joke, would say "BARROWMAN!" (implying blamehood upon John Barrowman) and brandish his fist at the screen.

The meme now just represents blaming any problem you happen to have at the time on John Barrowman.

McFly's song contained the lyrics "there's nothing on Earth that could save us since I fell in love with Uranus. Which as it happens was a line removed from the pilot episode of Torchwood"

BARROWMAN! *shakes fist* *grrrrr*

by Lord iEvil January 10, 2010