false advertising; bait and switch
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to sell dog meat as mutton; to use a good name as a cover for bad deeds; bait and switch
Originally referring to vendors hanging a sheep's head at the shopfront while actually selling dog meat. Now commonly used to describe deceptive business practices, false advertising, or saying one thing while doing another. Carries a negative connotation.
Zhè这
jiā家
shāng商
diàn店
guà挂
yáng羊
tóu头
mài卖
gǒu狗
ròu肉
，
hào号
chēng称
mài卖
yǒu有
jī机
shí食
pǐn品
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
què却
mài卖
pǔ普
tōng通
shí食
pǐn品
。
This store is selling dog meat as mutton, claiming to sell organic food while actually selling ordinary products.
Tā他
shuō说
huà话
zǒng总
shì是
guà挂
yáng羊
tóu头
mài卖
gǒu狗
ròu肉
，
shuō说
de的
hé和
zuò做
de的
bù不
yī一
yàng样
。
He always says one thing and does another, selling dog meat as mutton.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Wǒ我
men们
yào要
jǐng警
tì惕
nà那
xiē些
guà挂
yáng羊
tóu头
mài卖
gǒu狗
ròu肉
de的
xū虚
jiǎ假
guǎng广
gào告
。
We must be wary of false advertisements that claim one thing but deliver another.
Yǒu有
xiē些
péi培
xùn训
jī机
gòu构
guà挂
yáng羊
tóu头
mài卖
gǒu狗
ròu肉
，
dǎ打
zhe着
míng名
shī师
de的
qí旗
hào号
zhāo招
shōu收
xué学
sheng生
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
lǎo老
shī师
gēn根
běn本
méi没
yǒu有
zī资
zhì质
。
Some training institutions are selling dog meat as mutton, recruiting students under the banner of famous teachers when in fact the instructors have no qualifications at all.