投鼠忌器

lit. to refrain from shooting at the rat for fear of breaking the vases (idiom) / to not act against an evil so as to prevent harm to innocents

to cast / to send / to throw oneself (into the river etc) / to seek refuge / to place oneself into the hands of

device / tool / utensil / CL:臺|台[tai2]

rat / mouse / CL:隻|只[zhi1]

(bound form) rat; mouse

to be jealous of / fear / dread / scruple / to avoid or abstain from / to quit / to give up sth