文

mài
卖（賣）
gǒu
狗
pí
皮
gāo
膏
yao
药（藥）

idiom
common

Meaning of 卖狗皮膏药

卖狗皮膏药 means to talk big in order to deceive; to sell snake oil. Pronounced mài gǒu pí gāo yao.

  • to talk big in order to deceive; to sell snake oil

Definitions & Examples

Bú不
yào要
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
le了
 ，
shéi谁
bù不
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
nà那
liǎng两
xià下
zi子
 ？

Stop selling snake oil—who doesn't know what little skill you actually have?

Tā他
zhǐ只
huì会
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
 ，
shí实
jì际
shang上
méi没
shén什
me么
zhēn真
běn本
shì事
 。

He's all talk and no action—just selling snake oil without any real ability.

Zhè这
xiē些
xū虚
jiǎ假
guǎng广
gào告
dōu都
shì是
zài在
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
 ，
qiān千
wàn万
bié别
xìn信
 。

These false advertisements are all snake oil—don't believe them for a second.

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