to feign one activity while doing another; diversion tactic
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to repair the plank road openly while secretly crossing at Chencang; to use feints or diversions to achieve one's real goal
literaryDerived from a historical event in 206 BCE when Liu Bang, after being exiled to Hanzhong by Xiang Yu, burned the plank roads to feign disinterest in returning east, then secretly marched through Chencang to defeat Zhang Han and seize the Guanzhong region.
Tā他
men们
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
zài在
táo谈
pàn判
，
shí实
jì际
shàng上
shì是
xiǎng想
míng明
xiū修
zhàn栈
dào道
，
àn暗
dù度
chén陈
cāng仓
，
zhǔn准
bèi备
tū突
rán然
shōu收
gòu购
duì对
shǒu手
gōng公
sī司
。
They appeared to be negotiating, but were actually using diversion tactics to prepare a sudden acquisition of their rival company.
Zhè这
chǎng场
jūn军
shì事
yǎn演
xí习
bù不
guò过
shì是
míng明
xiū修
zhàn栈
dào道
，
àn暗
dù度
chén陈
cāng仓
，
zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
gōng攻
jī击
fāng方
xiàng向
zài在
lìng另
yī一
cè侧
。
This military exercise was merely a feint; the real point of attack was on the other flank.
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Tā他
míng明
xiū修
zhàn栈
dào道
，
àn暗
dù度
chén陈
cāng仓
，
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
cí辞
zhí职
，
shí实
jì际
shàng上
yǐ已
jīng经
zhǔn准
bèi备
hǎo好
le了
zì自
jǐ己
de的
xīn新
gōng公
sī司
。
He put on a show of resigning while secretly having already prepared his own new company.
Shāng商
yè业
jìng竞
zhēng争
zhōng中
，
míng明
xiū修
zhàn栈
dào道
，
àn暗
dù度
chén陈
cāng仓
shì是
yī一
zhǒng种
cháng常
jiàn见
de的
cè策
lüè略
。
In business competition, using diversionary tactics is a common strategy.