尚方剑 The imperial sword. A sword the emperor gave to an official, “a symbol of being authorized to decide on one’s own.” In plays and novels, an official who holds it may execute first and report afterward. Also 尚方宝剑.
拉大旗作虎皮 To raise a big banner as a tiger skin. To frighten others under a fine-sounding banner, and so protect oneself. Lu Xun used the image in 1936, in his reply to Xu Maoyong.
揣摩 To work out what something means. Also to guess. A dictionary gives an example from chapter 24 of the novel Wenming xiaoshi (文明小史): “If those above want new policies, talk of new policies. If they want to recruit the Boxers, talk of the Boxers.”