promise official posts and favors; make promises of patronage
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to promise official posts and favors to win someone's support
formalOften used in a political context to describe a leader or superior using promises of power or rewards to secure the loyalty and effort of subordinates. Typically has a negative connotation.
Zhè这
wèi位
zhèng政
kè客
zài在
jìng竞
xuǎn选
shí时
zǒng总
shì是
fēng封
guān官
xǔ许
yuàn愿
，
lā拉
lǒng拢
rén人
xīn心
。
This politician always makes promises of patronage during campaigns to win people over.
Lǎo老
bǎn板
sī私
xià下
li里
duì对
jǐ几
gè个
guān关
jiàn键
yuán员
gōng工
fēng封
guān官
xǔ许
yuàn愿
，
xī希
wàng望
tā他
men们
néng能
liú留
xià下
lái来
。
The boss privately promised promotions and benefits to several key employees, hoping they would stay.
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
fēng封
guān官
xǔ许
yuàn愿
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
，
zuì最
zhōng终
sǔn损
hài害
de的
shì是
zǔ组
zhī织
de的
cháng长
yuǎn远
fā发
zhǎn展
。
This practice of promising patronage ultimately harms the long-term development of the organization.
Tā他
wèi为
le了
wán完
chéng成
zhè这
gè个
xiàng项
mù目
，
duì对
tuán团
duì队
chéng成
yuán员
fēng封
guān官
xǔ许
yuàn愿
，
jī激
lì励
dà大
jiā家
jiā加
bān班
。
To complete the project, he dangled promises of promotions to team members, encouraging them to work overtime.