put on boots and a hat; apply a rigid, formulaic structure
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to apply a rigid, formulaic structure; to add empty formalities
formalCriticizes speech or writing that is overly formulaic, starting and ending with empty slogans or clichés, with little substantive content in between. Similar to the English phrase 'empty rhetoric'.
Zhè这
piān篇
bào报
gào告
chuān穿
xuē靴
dài戴
mào帽
，
shí实
jì际
nèi内
róng容
hěn很
shǎo少
。
This report is full of empty formalities with very little actual content.
Tā他
de的
fā发
yán言
zǒng总
ài爱
chuān穿
xuē靴
dài戴
mào帽
，
tīng听
duō多
le了
ràng让
rén人
yàn厌
fán烦
。
His speeches always follow a rigid, formulaic structure, which becomes tiresome after a while.
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Xiě写
lùn论
wén文
yào要
bì避
miǎn免
chuān穿
xuē靴
dài戴
mào帽
，
zhòng重
zài在
guān观
diǎn点
hé和
lùn论
zhèng证
。
When writing a thesis, avoid empty formalities and focus on your arguments and evidence.
Zhè这
fèn份
gōng公
wén文
de的
kāi开
tóu头
hé和
jié结
wěi尾
wán完
quán全
shì是
zài在
chuān穿
xuē靴
dài戴
mào帽
。
The beginning and end of this official document are purely formulaic.