身败名裂 (shēn bài míng liè) — (idiom) to lose both social standing and reputation; to be thoroughly disgraced

Definition

Strong four-character idiom meaning to be utterly disgraced — losing both social standing (名) and position/power (身). More dramatic and literary than plain 丢脸; reserved for serious fall from grace.

idiom
to lose both social standing and reputationto be thoroughly disgraced

Examples

  • 身败名裂
    Nà ge tān guān zuì hòu shēn bài míng liè, quán jiā dōu tái bù qǐ tóu.
    That corrupt official ended up completely disgraced, and his whole family couldn't hold their heads up.
  • 身败名裂
    Tā yì xīn xiǎng chéng míng, què yīn wèi zào jiǎ shēn bài míng liè.
    He was bent on becoming famous, but ended up disgraced because of fraud.
  • 身败名裂
    Yì jiā lǎo zì hào de lǎo bǎn zuò le wéi fǎ de shì, zuì hòu shēn bài míng liè.
    The boss of a time-honored brand did something illegal and ultimately lost both fortune and honor.

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