[zhì shǔ jì qì]   

掷    鼠    忌    器    犹言投鼠忌器。

犹言投鼠忌器。想用东西打老鼠，又怕打坏了近旁的器物。比喻做事有顾忌，不敢放手干。

To hold back from taking action against an evildoer for fear of involving good people

掷鼠忌器    掷果潘郎    掷果潘安    掷地赋声    掷杖成龙