一鼻子灰 (yī bí zǐ huī) — to be rebuffed; to meet with rejection; to run into a stone wall (after trying to please or approach someone)

Definition

An idiom meaning to be rebuffed or snubbed after trying to please or approach someone — often a futile attempt that earns only a cold shoulder. The image is literal: one noseful of dust, with no warmth in return.

idiom
to be rebuffedto meet with rejectionto run into a stone wall (after trying to please or approach someone)

Examples

  • ，一鼻子灰。
    Tā qù xiàng lǎo bǎn qǐng jià, jié guǒ pèng le yī bí zǐ huī.
    He went to ask the boss for leave, and ended up being rebuffed.
  • ，一鼻子灰。
    Tā xiǎng gěi tóng shì bāng máng, méi xiǎng dào què tǎo le gè yī bí zǐ huī.
    She wanted to help a colleague, but unexpectedly got a cold shoulder.
  • ，一鼻子灰。
    Nǐ bié qù tuī jiàn le, xiǎo xīn yòu pèng yī bí zǐ huī.
    Don't bother recommending — you might get rejected again.

Origin

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

一 is drawn as one horizontal stroke, marking the number one.

Open 一 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
自自zìnose
Sound part声符shēngfú
畀
畀bì鼻bí
Same sound today

鼻 pairs 自, meaning nose, with 畀, which gives the sound.

Open 鼻 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

灰 shows 火 (fire) that can be touched by 又 (hand), meaning ash.

Open 灰 →

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