指手画脚 (zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo) — to gesticulate while talking (idiom); to criticize or give orders arbitrarily; to boss people around

Definition

An idiom meaning to gesticulate when talking, or to criticize and boss people around from the sidelines. It always carries a negative judgment of the speaker as interfering or meddling.

phrase
to gesticulate while talking (idiom)to criticize or give orders arbitrarilyto boss people around

Examples

  • 指手画脚
    Lǐng dǎo bié zǒng zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo, yě yào tīng tīng yuán gōng de yì jiàn.
    Leaders shouldn't always boss people around; they should also listen to employees' opinions.
  • 指手画脚
    Tā shuō huà shí xǐ huan zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo, ràng rén jué de hěn yǒu qù.
    He likes to gesticulate when he talks, which people find very amusing.
  • 指手画脚
    Tā zǒng duì xiǎo shì zhǐ shǒu huà jiǎo, ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    She always nitpicks about small things, which makes people uncomfortable.

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