issue orders in the morning and change them by evening; make frequent policy changes
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to issue orders in the morning and change them by evening; to make frequent and unpredictable policy changes; to chop and change
derogatoryUsed to criticize inconsistent policies, unreliable behavior, or capricious decision-making. Often applied to governments, management, or individuals who change their minds frequently.
Zhèng政
fǔ府
de的
zhèng政
cè策
bù不
néng能
zhāo朝
lìng令
xī夕
gǎi改
，
fǒu否
zé则
huì会
yán严
zhòng重
yǐng影
xiǎng响
gōng公
xìn信
lì力
。
Government policies must not chop and change constantly, or it will seriously undermine public credibility.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
guǎn管
lǐ理
céng层
zhāo朝
lìng令
xī夕
gǎi改
，
ràng让
yuán员
gōng工
wú无
suǒ所
shì适
cóng从
。
The management of this company keeps changing policies back and forth, leaving employees at a loss.
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Zuò做
lǐng领
dǎo导
de的
bù不
néng能
zhāo朝
lìng令
xī夕
gǎi改
，
fǒu否
zé则
huì会
shī失
qù去
xià下
shǔ属
de的
xìn信
rèn任
。
Those in leadership positions must not issue arbitrary orders that change overnight, or they will lose the trust of their subordinates.