the water buffalo(which dreads the heat of summer) panting at the sight of the moon (mistaking it for the sun)-fear of a thing owing to mistaking it for sth else; undue fear before sth rarely seen
? 奮答曰： “臣猶吳牛，見月而喘。(劉義慶《世說新語·言語》) Fen answered，“Your servant is like the water buffaloes of Wu which pant when they see the moon.”
吳牛喘月wu niu chuan yue
Wu buffalo would pant at the sight of the moon—have excessive fear due to suspicion
吳牛喘月wú niú chuǎn yuè
吳牛：指江浙一帶的水牛。江浙一帶的水牛怕熱，見到月亮以為是太陽而發(fā)喘。比喻因疑心而害怕。have an excessive fear of, fear of one thing due to mistaking it for sth. else