拔茅茹

bámáorú
  1. lit. pull up a plant and the roots follow
  2. fig. also involving others
  3. inextricably tangled together
  4. Invite one and he'll tell all his friends.

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 拔 bá
  1. to pull up
  2. to pull out
  3. to draw out by suction
  4. to select
  5. to pick
  6. to stand out (above level)
  7. to surpass
  8. to seize
2 茅 máo
  1. reeds
  2. rushes
3 茹 rú
  1. to eat
  2. (extended meaning) to endure
  3. putrid smell
  4. vegetables
  5. roots (inextricably attached to the plant)

Related entries

拔茅連茹 bámáoliánrú
  1. lit. pull up a plant and the roots follow (idiom); fig. also involving others
  2. inextricably tangled together
  3. Invite one and he'll tell all his friends.