bite the hand that feeds you; double-cross
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to bite the hand that feeds you; to accept benefits from one party while secretly working for the opposing party
derogatoryA strongly negative idiom used to describe betrayal, disloyalty, or double-dealing, often in contexts of business, politics, or personal relationships. It implies taking advantage of the trust and resources of one side to help another. The variant '吃里扒外 (chī lǐ pá wài)' is equally common.
Tā他
zuò作
wéi为
gōng公
sī司
gāo高
guǎn管
，
jìng竟
rán然
chī吃
lǐ里
pá爬
wài外
，
bǎ把
jī机
mì密
mài卖
gěi给
le了
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
。
As a company executive, he actually bit the hand that fed him and sold secrets to a competitor.
Nà那
ge个
qiú球
yuán员
ná拿
zhe着
wǒ我
men们
duì队
de的
xīn薪
shuǐ水
，
què却
zài在
chǎng场
shàng上
chī吃
lǐ里
pá爬
wài外
，
gěi给
duì对
shǒu手
chuán传
qiú球
。
That player takes our team's salary but on the court bites the hand that feeds him, passing the ball to the opponent.
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Tā他
zhè这
zhǒng种
rén人
，
chī吃
lǐ里
pá爬
wài外
，
zǒng总
yǒu有
yī一
tiān天
huì会
zhòng众
pàn叛
qīn亲
lí离
。
Someone like him, who bites the hand that feeds him, will end up being deserted by all one day.