turn one's weapon against one's own side; attack former allies
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to turn one's weapon against one's own side; to attack one's former allies or faction
literaryOriginally a military term describing a soldier turning his spear (戈) to attack his own army. Now used metaphorically for betraying one's own side, often suddenly and unexpectedly. Carries a strong connotation of betrayal or defection.
Zài在
guān关
jiàn键
shí时
kè刻
，
tā他
tū突
rán然
fǎn反
gē戈
yī一
jī击
，
ràng让
duì队
yǒu友
cuò措
shǒu手
bù不
jí及
。
At the critical moment, he suddenly turned against his own side, catching his teammates completely off guard.
Zhè这
wèi位
jiāng将
jūn军
fǎn反
gē戈
yī一
jī击
，
dài带
lǐng领
bù部
xià下
tóu投
xiáng降
le了
dí敌
jūn军
。
The general turned his weapon against his own side and led his troops to surrender to the enemy.
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Tā他
běn本
lái来
zhī支
chí持
zhè这
ge个
fāng方
àn案
，
méi没
xiǎng想
dào到
zài在
tóu投
piào票
shí时
fǎn反
gē戈
yī一
jī击
，
tóu投
le了
fǎn反
duì对
piào票
。
He had originally supported the proposal, but unexpectedly turned against it when voting and cast a dissenting vote.
Xiǎo小
shuō说
xì细
zhì致
de地
miáo描
xiě写
le了
zhè这
ge个
pàn叛
tú徒
fǎn反
gē戈
yī一
jī击
shí时
de的
xīn心
lǐ理
huó活
dòng动
。
The novel meticulously describes the psychological state of this traitor at the moment he turned against his own side.