虚张声势 (xū zhāng shēng shì) — to bluff and bluster; to make an empty show of strength
Definition
A chengyu meaning to put on a false show of strength or bluff loudly to intimidate — the actual power is empty.
idiom
to bluff and blusterto make an empty show of strength
Examples
- 虚张声势，。Tā bú guò shì xū zhāng shēng shì, qí shí gēn běn méi yǒu shí lì.He's just bluffing — actually he has no real strength.
- 虚张声势，。Dí rén xū zhāng shēng shì, shì tú xià hu wǒ men tóu xiáng.The enemy put up a show of strength, trying to scare us into surrendering.
- 虚张声势，。Bié bèi tā de xū zhāng shēng shì piàn le, tā shén me yě zuò bù liǎo.Don't be fooled by his bluster — he can't do anything.
Appears in
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