have an ulterior motive
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
harbor ulterior motives; have a hidden agenda
derogatoryDescribes behavior where someone's words or actions are driven by a hidden, often negative, purpose. It implies deceit and lack of sincerity.
Tā他
zhè这
me么
rè热
qíng情
de地
bāng帮
máng忙
，
kǒng恐
pà怕
shì是
bié别
yǒu有
yòng用
xīn心
。
His eagerness to help is probably because he has an ulterior motive.
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
jǐng警
tì惕
nà那
xiē些
bié别
yǒu有
yòng用
xīn心
de的
rén人
sàn散
bù布
yáo谣
yán言
。
We must be vigilant against people with ulterior motives spreading rumors.
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Zhè这
fèn份
kàn看
sì似
shàn善
yì意
de的
jiàn建
yì议
，
shí实
zé则
shì是
bié别
yǒu有
yòng用
xīn心
。
This seemingly well-intentioned advice is in fact driven by a hidden agenda.
Pī批
píng评
shì是
wèi为
le了
gǎi改
jìn进
gōng工
zuò作
，
ér而
bú不
shì是
bié别
yǒu有
yòng用
xīn心
de地
gōng攻
jī击
。
Criticism is for improving work, not for attacks with ulterior motives.