blow hot and cold; be fickle; manipulate
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesidiom
be fickle and capricious; blow hot and cold
formalOften used to describe a person who changes their attitude or loyalty easily, like turning one's hand to make clouds and the other to make rain.
Tā他
zhè这
rén人
fān翻
yún云
fù覆
yǔ雨
，
zuó昨
tiān天
dā答
yìng应
de的
shì事
jīn今
tiān天
jiù就
fǎn反
huǐ悔
le了
。
He's so fickle; he went back on what he promised yesterday.
Zhèng政
tán坛
shàng上
fān翻
yún云
fù覆
yǔ雨
，
méng盟
yǒu友
zhuǎn转
yǎn眼
biàn变
chéng成
duì对
shǒu手
。
In the political arena, people blow hot and cold; allies can become opponents in the blink of an eye.
Definition
manipulate situations; play tricks
formalDerived from the original poetic imagery, emphasizing the act of manipulating circumstances with skill and deceit.
Tā他
zài在
shāng商
jiè界
fān翻
yún云
fù覆
yǔ雨
，
xǔ许
duō多
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
dōu都
bèi被
tā他
suàn算
jì计
le了
。
He manipulates situations in the business world; many competitors have been outmaneuvered by him.
Zhè这
bù部
xiǎo小
shuō说
jiē揭
lù露
le了
guān官
chǎng场
shàng上
fān翻
yún云
fù覆
yǔ雨
de的
quán权
shù术
dòu斗
zhēng争
。
This novel exposes the manipulative power struggles within officialdom.