翻云覆雨 (fān yún fù yǔ) — to play fast and loose; to be shifty and duplicitous; to engage in trickery
Definition
Literally 'turning clouds and overturning rain' — a vivid idiom for someone who constantly shifts position and cannot be trusted. Used for politicians, businesspeople, or anyone whose words keep changing.
idiom
to play fast and looseto be shifty and duplicitousto engage in trickery
Examples
- 翻云覆雨，。Zhè ge rén fān yún fù yǔ, bù kě xìn rèn.This person is shifty and cannot be trusted.
- 翻云覆雨，。Tā zài shāng chǎng shàng fān yún fù yǔ, jīng cháng gǎi biàn lì chǎng.He plays fast and loose in business, often changing his stance.
- 翻云覆雨，。Zhèng kè men fān yún fù yǔ, ràng rén nán yǐ xiāng xìn tā men de chéng nuò.Politicians are duplicitous, making it hard to believe their promises.
Appears in
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