húliwěiba

狐狸尾巴

Word · Noun

hidden intentions or misdeeds that will inevitably be exposed

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 3 examples
1.

noun

hidden intentions or misdeeds that will inevitably be exposed

neutral

This idiom, originating from Chinese folklore, uses the metaphor of a transformed fox whose tail cannot be hidden. It strongly implies that hidden negative intentions or actions will eventually be revealed, often with a sense of inevitable discovery and justice served.

Piàn骗
zi子
zhuāng装
le了
zhè这
me么
jiǔ久
hǎo好
rén人
 ,
xiàn现
zài在
zhōng终
yú于
lù露
chū出
le了
hú狐
li狸
wěi尾
ba巴
 。

The swindler pretended to be a good person for so long, but now his true colors have finally shown.

Tā他
de的
yīn阴
móu谋
guǐ诡
jì计
 ,
zǎo早
wǎn晚
huì会
lù露
chū出
hú狐
li狸
wěi尾
ba巴
de的
 。

His sinister schemes will eventually be exposed sooner or later.

Show 1 more example
Nà那
ge个
tān贪
wū污
fàn犯
cáng藏
de得
hěn很
hǎo好
 ,
dàn但
yī一
chá查
zhàng账
mù目
 ,
hú狐
li狸
wěi尾
ba巴
jiù就
cáng藏
bú不
zhù住
le了
 。

The embezzler hid well, but once the accounts were audited, his wrongdoing could no longer be concealed.