挾天子以令天下

挟天子以令天下
xiétiānzǐyǐlìngtiānxià
(expr.) hold the feudal overlord and you control the whole country

CEDICT

Entry Composition

1 挾 xié
  1. (bound form) to clasp under the arm
  2. (bound form) to coerce
  3. (bound form) to harbor (resentment etc)
  4. Taiwan pr. xiá
2 天子 tiānzǐ
  1. the (rightful) emperor
  2. "Son of Heaven" (traditional English translation)
=3 以 yǐ old variant of 以 yǐ
=3 以 yǐ old variant of 以 yǐ
=3 以 yǐ
  1. to use
  2. by means of
  3. according to
  4. in order to
  5. because of
  6. at (a certain date or place)
4 令 lìng
  1. to order
  2. to command
  3. an order
  4. warrant
  5. writ
  6. to cause
  7. to make sth happen
  8. virtuous
  9. honorific title
  10. season
  11. government position (old)
  12. type of short song or poem
5 天下 tiānxià
  1. land under heaven
  2. the whole world
  3. the whole of China
  4. realm
  5. rule