甚嚣尘上 (shèn xiāo chén shàng) — (idiom) to be rife and exaggerated; (of rumors, opinions) to spread wildly and cause a stir

Definition

A written idiom for rumors, false claims, or harmful talk that is swirling loudly in public. Mostly used in news or formal writing to describe a noisy, often temporary, uproar.

idiom
to be rife and exaggerated(of rumors, opinions) to spread wildly and cause a stir

Examples

  • 甚嚣尘上。
    Zhè zhǒng yáo yán zuì jìn zài shè huì shàng shèn xiāo chén shàng.
    This kind of rumor has been spreading wildly in society recently.
  • 甚嚣尘上。
    Guān yú tā de xiāo xi zài wǎng luò shàng shèn xiāo chén shàng.
    News about him is causing an uproar online.
  • 甚嚣尘上，。
    Zhè xiē bù shí yán lùn yì shí shèn xiāo chén shàng, dàn hěn kuài bèi chéng qīng le.
    These false statements caused a temporary uproar, but were soon clarified.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

甚 combines 甘 and 匕. The evidence gives no meaning for either part.

Open 甚 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 囂; 嚣 is its simplified writing.

  • 㗊㗊㗊four mouths; to clamor
  • 頁頁yèhead

The traditional form 囂 combines 㗊 (four mouths) with 頁 (head) to show a clamoring crowd; the simplified 嚣 is a later abbreviation.

Open 嚣 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In 尘, 小 (small) sits above 土 (earth), giving the idea of tiny bits of earth.

Open 尘 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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