畏首畏尾

From The Commentary of Zuo, seventeenth year of Duke Wen of Lu, or 610 B.C.E.:

古人有言曰：“畏首畏尾，身其餘幾？”又曰，“鹿死不擇音。” [Classical Chinese, trad.]

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古人有言曰：“畏首畏尾，身其余几？”又曰，“鹿死不择音。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

Gǔrén yǒu yán yuē: “Wèi shǒu wèi wěi, shēn qí yú jǐ?” Yòu yuē, “lù sǐ bù zé yīn.” [Pinyin]

There is an ancient saying, "Fearing for the head and fearing for the tail, what of the body is one left with (not to fear for)?’ And there is another, ‘The deer driven to its death ignores whether it is screaming in its best voice.’

畏首畏尾

1. to be afraid of the slightest thing; ever fearful and nervous; to be full of misgivings; to be overcautious

• 畏頭畏尾／畏头畏尾