先声夺人 (xiān shēng duó rén) | Meaning: to gain the upper hand by a show of strength | Chinese Idiom with Pinyin & Origin

(idiom) to gain the initiative by striking first; to preempt先发制人xiān fā zhì rén

to compete to be first · to contest first place争先zhēng xiān

(idiom) try persuasion before resorting to force先礼后兵xiān lǐ hòu bīng

to gain the upper hand by a show of strength