偃旗息鼓

- lower one's banners and muffle one's drums; cease fire; cease all activities; cover the flag and stop beating the drum -- on a secret expedition; furl all the banners and silence all the drums; roll up the flags and silence the drums.; stop all activities and lie low; stop an affair; The drums ceased to beat and the banners were lowered to the ground.; The ensigns and weapons were discarded and no drums beat.