make a false countercharge; turn the tables on one's accuser
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to make a false countercharge; to turn the tables on one's accuser; to shift the blame
Originates from the story of the pig demon Zhu Bajie in 'Journey to the West' who would swing his rake backward when attacked. Now used to describe someone who, when accused, not only denies fault but accuses the accuser instead.
Míng明
míng明
shì是
tā他
de的
cuò错
，
tā他
què却
dào倒
dǎ打
yī一
pá耙
，
shuō说
shì是
wǒ我
xiān先
tiǎo挑
qǐ起
de的
。
It was clearly his mistake, but he turned the tables and said I started it.
Miàn面
duì对
zhèng证
jù据
，
tā他
méi没
yǒu有
rèn认
cuò错
，
fǎn反
ér而
dào倒
dǎ打
yī一
pá耙
，
zhǐ指
zé责
duì对
fāng方
wū诬
xiàn陷
tā他
。
Faced with the evidence, he didn't admit his mistake but instead made a false countercharge, accusing the other party of framing him.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
dào倒
dǎ打
yī一
pá耙
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
ràng让
rén人
fēi非
cháng常
fǎn反
gǎn感
。
This tactic of shifting the blame is very off-putting.
Nǐ你
bié别
xiǎng想
dào倒
dǎ打
yī一
pá耙
，
shì事
shí实
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
kàn看
dé得
hěn很
qīng清
chu楚
。
Don't even think about turning the tables; everyone sees the facts clearly.