make empty promises; talk big
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb phrase
to make empty promises; to talk big without following through
informalOften used to criticize someone who boasts or makes promises they have no intention of keeping. The imagery is of firing an empty cannon (producing sound but no real effect).
Tā他
zǒng总
shì是
shuō说
yào要
qǐng请
dà大
jiā家
chī吃
fàn饭
，
jié结
guǒ果
měi每
cì次
dōu都
fàng放
kōng空
pào炮
。
He always says he'll treat everyone to a meal, but he always makes empty promises.
Bié别
zài再
fàng放
kōng空
pào炮
le了
，
ná拿
chū出
shí实
jì际
xíng行
dòng动
lái来
zhèng证
míng明
nǐ你
de的
jué决
xīn心
。
Stop talking big and show your determination with real action.
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Xuǎn选
jǔ举
qián前
zhèng政
kè客
men们
róng容
yì易
fàng放
kōng空
pào炮
，
xǔ许
xià下
hěn很
duō多
wú无
fǎ法
duì兑
xiàn现
de的
nuò诺
yán言
。
Before elections, politicians tend to make empty promises, pledging many things they cannot deliver.
Tā他
shuō说
yào要
chuàng创
yè业
zhuàn赚
dà大
qián钱
，
wǒ我
kàn看
tā他
jiù就
shì是
zài在
fàng放
kōng空
pào炮
。
He says he wants to start a business and make a fortune; I think he's just talking big.