swallow like a whale and eat like a silkworm -- to eat in different ways -- different ways of aggression; take by force and encroach upon land or territory
蚕食: (比喻逐渐侵占) nibble (up); encroach on [upon]: 蚕食别国的领土 nibble another country's territory away◇蚕食政策 the policy of “nibbling” at another country's territory
蚕食政策: the policy of nibbling at another country's territory