sweep the floor; complete loss of reputation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to sweep the floor; to clean the ground with a broom
Literal meaning referring to the physical act of cleaning floors with a broom or similar tool.
Měi每
tiān天
zǎo早
shang上
wǒ我
dōu都
yào要
sǎo扫
dì地
。
I have to sweep the floor every morning.
Qǐng请
bǎ把
jiào教
shì室
dǎ打
sǎo扫
gān干
jìng净
。
Please clean the classroom thoroughly.
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Tā他
zài在
sǎo扫
dì地
，
mèi妹
mei妹
zài在
cā擦
zhuō桌
zi子
。
He is sweeping the floor while his younger sister is wiping the table.
verb
to be completely lost; to vanish (of reputation, prestige, dignity, etc.)
Figurative usage often used in set phrases such as 威信扫地 (complete loss of prestige) or 斯文扫地 (complete loss of scholarly dignity). Implies a total collapse of status or reputation.
Zhè这
cì次
chǒu丑
wén闻
ràng让
tā他
de的
wēi威
xìn信
sǎo扫
dì地
。
This scandal completely destroyed his prestige.
Nà那
wèi位
jiào教
shòu授
chāo抄
xí袭
lùn论
wén文
，
zhēn真
shi是
sī斯
wén文
sǎo扫
dì地
。
That professor plagiarized his paper—truly a complete loss of scholarly dignity.
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Rú如
guǒ果
zhè这
jiàn件
shì事
bèi被
pù曝
guāng光
，
tā他
de的
míng名
yù誉
jiù就
huì会
sǎo扫
dì地
。
If this matter is exposed, his reputation will be completely ruined.