开涮

verb

to tease; to make fun of; to play a joke on

A colloquial term originating from northern Chinese dialects (especially Beijing). The core action is putting someone on the spot with a joke or prank, often in a lighthearted, non-malicious way among friends. The metaphor relates to the hot pot (火锅) cooking method "涮" where ingredients are swished briefly in boiling broth, implying a quick, playful "dunking" of someone verbally.