# feed the dragon

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/feed-the-dragon
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To outsource (jobs) to the People's Republic of China.

## Examples

- Many companies choose to feed the dragon to lower their production costs.
- After the board decided to feed the dragon, the local factory closed its doors for good.
- The corporation's strategic decision to feed the dragon sparked a heated debate regarding domestic labor standards and long-term economic stability.

## Origin

From the cultural association of the dragon as a symbol of China. The phrase makes use of this iconography to describe the provision of resources to the nation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.