oblique accusation; scolding one thing to mean another
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to point at the chicken while scolding the dog; to make oblique accusations; to criticize one person indirectly by scolding another
Variant of 指桑骂槐 (zhǐ sāng mà huái). This form is less common than the standard idiom but carries the same meaning of indirect criticism.
Nǐ你
bié别
zhǐ指
jī鸡
mà骂
gǒu狗
，
yǒu有
huà话
zhí直
shuō说
。
Don't beat around the bush; if you have something to say, say it directly.
Tā他
zhè这
shì是
zài在
zhǐ指
jī鸡
mà骂
gǒu狗
，
biǎo表
miàn面
shàng上
mà骂
hái孩
zi子
，
qí其
shí实
shì是
mà骂
wǒ我
。
He is pointing at the chicken while scolding the dog; on the surface he's scolding the child, but actually he's scolding me.
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Yǒu有
huà话
zhí直
shuō说
，
bié别
zhǐ指
jī鸡
mà骂
gǒu狗
de的
。
Speak directly, don't make indirect accusations.
Zhǐ指
jī鸡
mà骂
gǒu狗
de的
zuò做
fǎ法
jiě解
jué决
bù不
liǎo了
wèn问
tí题
。
This approach of oblique criticism won't solve the problem.