堂而皇之 (táng ér huáng zhī) — in a grand and open manner (often with a hint of irony or brazenness); dignified and impressive (of appearance or scale)
Definition
An idiom meaning 'openly and brazenly' — doing something shamelessly under the guise of grandeur or legitimacy. Note the frequent ironic edge: it usually describes audacious, not admirable, behavior.
idiom
in a grand and open manner (often with a hint of irony or brazenness)dignified and impressive (of appearance or scale)
Examples
- 堂而皇之，。Tā táng ér huáng zhī dì zǒu jìn huì yì shì, hǎo xiàng zì jǐ shì lǎo bǎn yí yàng.He walked into the meeting room with a grand air, as if he were the boss.
- 堂而皇之，。Zhè dòng dà lóu táng ér huáng zhī dì lì zài shì zhōng xīn, fēi cháng xiǎn yǎn.This building stands grandly in the city center, very conspicuous.
- 堂而皇之。Tā táng ér huáng zhī dì bǎ bié rén de gōng láo shuō chéng shì zì jǐ de.He brazenly claimed others' achievements as his own.
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