sell snake oil; talk big to deceive
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to talk big in order to deceive; to sell snake oil
derogatoryOriginally referred to quack doctors selling fake medicinal plasters. Now a derogatory idiom describing someone who boasts or makes empty promises to cheat others. Often used in informal spoken contexts.
Bú不
yào要
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
le了
，
shéi谁
bù不
zhī知
dào道
nǐ你
nà那
liǎng两
xià下
zi子
？
Stop selling snake oil—who doesn't know what little skill you actually have?
Tā他
zhǐ只
huì会
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
méi没
shén什
me么
zhēn真
běn本
shì事
。
He's all talk and no action—just selling snake oil without any real ability.
Show 1 more exampleShow fewer examples
Zhè这
xiē些
xū虚
jiǎ假
guǎng广
gào告
dōu都
shì是
zài在
mài卖
gǒu狗
pí皮
gāo膏
yao药
，
qiān千
wàn万
bié别
xìn信
。
These false advertisements are all snake oil—don't believe them for a second.