use public office to avenge a personal grudge; abuse power for personal vengeance
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to use public office or authority to settle a personal grudge; to abuse power for private revenge
formalCarries a strongly negative connotation. Describes corrupt or unethical behavior where someone in a position of power misuses their authority for personal gain or vengeance.
Nà那
ge个
guān官
yuán员
lì利
yòng用
zhí职
quán权
，
duì对
pī批
píng评
tā他
de的
rén人
jìn进
xíng行
dǎ打
jī击
bào报
fù复
，
wán完
quán全
shì是
gōng公
bào报
sī私
chóu仇
。
That official abused his authority to retaliate against his critics, which is purely using public office to avenge a personal grudge.
Tā他
gěi给
tóng同
shì事
ān安
pái排
zuì最
kǔ苦
zuì最
lèi累
de的
huór活
zhè儿
，
nán这
dào难
bù道
shì不
gōng是
bào公
sī报
chóu私
ma仇
吗
？
He assigned the hardest and most tiring tasks to his colleague. Isn't this just abusing his position for personal vengeance?
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Zhè这
zhǒng种
xíng行
wéi为
shǔ属
yú于
diǎn典
xíng型
de的
gōng公
bào报
sī私
chóu仇
，
yán严
zhòng重
wéi违
fǎn反
le了
zhí职
yè业
dào道
dé德
。
This type of behavior is a classic case of using public office to settle private scores and severely violates professional ethics.