play tricks; engage in underhanded schemes
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to play tricks; to engage in underhanded schemes; to mess around secretly
dialectA dialectal term implying dishonest or mischievous secret actions meant to deceive or disrupt. Often used when someone is suspected of causing trouble behind the scenes.
Kěn肯
dìng定
shì是
yǒu有
rén人
zài在
bèi背
hòu后
nòng弄
guǐ鬼
，
xiàng项
mù目
cái才
huì会
shī失
bài败
。
Someone must have been playing tricks behind the scenes for the project to fail.
Tā他
zhěng整
tiān天
nòng弄
guǐ鬼
，
xiǎng想
xiàn陷
hài害
tóng同
shì事
。
He spends all day playing tricks, trying to frame his colleagues.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Nǐ你
bié别
zài在
zhè这
er儿
nòng弄
guǐ鬼
，
wǒ我
dōu都
kàn看
jiàn见
le了
。
Don't you mess around here; I saw everything.
Zhè这
shì事
er儿
huáng黄
le了
，
bā八
chéng成
shì是
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
zài在
nòng弄
guǐ鬼
。
This deal fell through—eighty percent chance it was our competitors playing tricks.