肉にくを切きらせて骨ほねを断たつ

expression, godan verb (-tsu)

lose a battle to win the war; incur damage to inflict greater damage

Idiomatic expression meaning to accept a small loss or sacrifice in order to deal a decisive blow to an opponent. Often used in strategic or competitive contexts.

• 彼かれは肉にくを切きらせて骨ほねを断たつ戦せん略りゃくで、あえて一いっ歩ぽ譲ゆずって相あい手ての主しゅ力りょくを倒たおした。

  He used a strategy of losing a battle to win the war, deliberately giving ground to defeat the opponent's main force.

• 交こう渉しょうでは、小ちいさな譲じょう歩ほをして相あい手ての要よう求きゅうの核かく心しんを崩くずす、肉にくを切きらせて骨ほねを断たつやり方かたが有ゆう効こうなこともある。

  In negotiations, the approach of making a small concession to undermine the core of the other party's demands—losing a battle to win the war—can sometimes be effective.