noun
person who resorts to petty tricks; small-minded trickster
A yojijukugo describing someone of low caliber who relies on cheap, cunning tricks rather than real ability. Often used critically.
彼は鶏鳴狗盗の徒に過ぎない。
He is nothing more than a petty trickster.
そんな鶏鳴狗盗の策では、大きな成功は望めない。
With such petty tricks, you can't hope for great success.
From a Chinese historical anecdote: 'crowing like a cock and stealing like a dog,' referring to minor skills used to escape a predicament. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is conventionally associated with petty trickery.