Imagine you adopted a tiger cub into your home. It is cute, cuddly, and harmless.
You notice it begins to purr loudly, and the only way you can make it stop is to feed it red meat.
Over the months and years, you keep doing this, but the tiger is now several hundred pounds, requiring whole sides of beef. Rather than a cute purr, the tiger roars ferociously for its meat.
You are terrified, so you keep giving him the meat so he will leave you alone. The more you feed it, the larger it gets, and the more trapped you become.
In this metaphor, feeding the tiger symbolizes sidestepping your responsibilities. There is temporary relief, but a long term cost.
Each time you avoid responsibility, you are feeding the tiger, making the problem larger, giving up long term freedom and control.