始作俑者 (shǐ zuò yǒng zhě) — originator of a bad practice or precedent; the one who started a harmful trend
Definition
Literally 'the first to make clay burial figurines,' it labels the person who invented a harmful practice — strong condemnation. Use it for blame, never for praise.
noun
originator of a bad practice or precedentthe one who started a harmful trend
Examples
- 始作俑者。Tā shì zhè cì jīn róng wēi jī de shǐ zuò yǒng zhě.He is the originator of this financial crisis.
- 始作俑者。Zhè zhǒng bù liáng fēng qì de shǐ zuò yǒng zhě yīng gāi shòu dào qiǎn zé.The originator of this bad atmosphere should be condemned.
- 始作俑者，。Zuò wéi zhè zhǒng cuò wù zuò fǎ de shǐ zuò yǒng zhě, tā nán cí qí jiù.As the originator of this wrong practice, he cannot escape blame.
Appears in
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