pump for information; ask indirectly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to pump (someone) for information; to ask questions indirectly without revealing one's true purpose
Often implies trying to obtain secret or sensitive information through indirect questioning.
Tā他
shì试
tú图
tào套
wèn问
chū出
gōng公
sī司
de的
jī机
mì密
。
He tried to pump for the company's secrets.
Jì记
zhě者
tào套
wèn问
le了
bàn半
tiān天
，
yě也
méi没
dé得
dào到
yǒu有
yòng用
de的
xìn信
xī息
。
The reporter asked indirectly for a long time but didn't get any useful information.
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Nǐ你
bié别
xiǎng想
tào套
wèn问
wǒ我
de的
huà话
，
wǒ我
shén什
me么
dōu都
bù不
huì会
shuō说
。
Don't try to pump me for information—I won't say anything.