市いちに虎とらを放はなつ

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

let a fox into the henhouse; do something dangerous; let loose a tiger in the marketplace

Idiomatic expression meaning to create a dangerous situation by introducing a threat into a vulnerable place. The literal image is releasing a tiger in a marketplace, but the English equivalent 'let a fox into the henhouse' is often used.

• あの会かい社しゃに彼かれを雇やとうのは、市いちに虎とらを放はなつようなものだ。

  Hiring him at that company is like letting a fox into the henhouse.

• 無む防ぼう備びな市し場じょうに粗そ悪あく品ひんを流りゅう通つうさせるのは、まさに市いちに虎とらを放はなつ行こう為いだ。

  Distributing defective products in an unprotected market is exactly like letting loose a tiger in the marketplace.