挡箭牌 (dǎng) — (figurative) a shield, an excuse or pretext used to deflect blame or criticism
Definition
A figurative 'shield' — something (a person, policy, or excuse) used to deflect blame or criticism. Often follows 当 dāng or 拿 ná: 拿…当挡箭牌 'use … as a shield/excuse'.
noun
(figurative) a shieldan excuse or pretext used to deflect blame or criticism
Examples
- 挡箭牌，。Tā zǒng shì ná gōng zuò máng dāng dǎng, qí shí shì bù xiǎng cān jiā jù huì.He always uses being busy with work as an excuse, but actually he doesn't want to attend the party.
- 挡箭牌。Zhè ge zhèng cè chéng le zhèng fǔ tuī xiè zé rèn de dǎng.This policy has become a shield for the government to shirk responsibility.
- 挡箭牌，。Bié ná nián líng dāng dǎng, nǐ wán quán yǒu néng lì zuò hǎo zhè jiàn shì.Don't use age as an excuse — you are fully capable of doing this well.
Appears in
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