wāqiángjiǎo

挖墙脚

Word · VerbTraditional挖牆腳

undermine; sabotage; poach talent

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

1 sense · 4 examples
1.

verb

to undermine; to sabotage; to cut the ground from under someone's feet; (in business) to poach key personnel from a competitor

informal

Originally refers to digging at the foundation of a wall, causing it to collapse. Metaphorically describes actions that secretly damage someone's foundation, interests, or relationships. In business contexts, it specifically refers to poaching key employees from competitors. Often carries a negative connotation.

Tā他
men们
gōng公
sī司
zǒng总
shì是
lái来
wā挖
wǒ我
men们
de的
qiáng墙
jiǎo脚
 ,
bǎ把
zuì最
hǎo好
de的
gōng工
chéng程
shī师
dōu都
wā挖
zǒu走
le了
 。

Their company is always poaching our talent, taking away our best engineers.

Péng朋
you友
zhī之
jiān间
bù不
yīng应
gāi该
hù互
xiāng相
wā挖
qiáng墙
jiǎo脚
 ,
ér而
yào要
hù互
xiāng相
zhī支
chí持
 。

Friends shouldn't undermine each other; they should support each other instead.

Show 2 more examples
Zhè这
jiā家
qǐ企
yè业
kào靠
wā挖
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
de的
qiáng墙
jiǎo脚
kuài快
sù速
kuò扩
zhāng张
 ,
dàn但
kǒu口
bēi碑
hěn很
chà差
 。

This company expanded rapidly by poaching from competitors, but its reputation is terrible.

Nǐ你
bié别
zài在
wǒ我
zhèr这
wā儿
qiáng挖
jiǎo墙
yǒu脚
 ,
běn有
shì本
zì事
jǐ自
qù己
péi去
yǎng培
rén养
cái人
 才
 。

Don't try to poach from me; if you have the ability, cultivate your own talent.