先斩后奏

xiān zhǎn hòu zòu

to act first and ask permission later

Character by character

先xiān
first

斩zhǎn
behead

后hòu
then

奏zòu
report

他没跟父母商量就辞了职，来了个先斩后奏。

He quit his job without asking his parents and told them afterwards.

Tone: neutral.

Originally an official executing someone before reporting to the emperor; now any fait accompli.

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