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Home / Idiom / 旁敲侧击

to make insinuations · to take an indirect approach (in making inquiries) (idiom)

旁敲侧击
páng qiāo cè jī
p+áng·2nd toneq+iāo·1st tonec+è·4th tonej+ī·1st tone
Idiom
Chain
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Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom) · fig. to speak in a roundabout way · to equivocate · to beat about the bush拐弯抹角guǎi wān mò jiǎoto turn · to go around a corner转弯zhuǎn wānlit. to point at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree · fig. to scold sb indirectly · to make oblique accusations (idiom)指桑骂槐zhǐ sāng mà huáito hide the head and show the tail (idiom); to give a partial account · half-truths藏头露尾cáng tóu lù wěi
Antonyms
to speak bluntly (idiom) · not to mince words直言不讳zhí yán bù huìdirect and plainspoken (idiom); blunt · straightforward直截了当zhí jié liǎo dàng
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