“下马威”,原指官吏初到任时对下属显示的威风(severity shown by an official on assuming office),后泛指一开始就向对方显示自己的威力(head-on blow at the first encounter)。常用的表达如“给对手一个下马威”,可以翻译为“prevail over the opponent from the very first encounter”。
例句:
教练一开始就给每个球员来了一个下马威。
The coach begins by putting the fear of God in every ballplayer.
新经理一来就来了个下马威,开除了几个懒散的员工。
As soon as the new manager assumed office, he showed his ruthlessness by firing several slackers.