Definition
通风报信 is a set phrase meaning 'to secretly tip someone off' or 'to pass confidential information to warn someone.' It comes from the literal 'letting in wind and reporting news,' and is often used in contexts involving leaks, espionage, or warning someone before an official action (e.g., a raid or investigation).
f.e.
to secretly tip someone offto leak inside information
Examples
- 通风报信，。Tā gěi fànzuì xiányí rén tōng, jiéguǒ bèi jǐngchá zhuā zhù le.He tipped off the criminal suspect, and as a result was caught by the police.
- 通风报信，。Kǎoshì qián yǒu rén xiàng kǎoshēng tōng, xuéxiào zhèngzài diàochá zhè jiàn shì.Someone tipped off the examinees before the exam, and the school is investigating the matter.
- 通风报信，。Gōngsī nèibù yǒu rén gěi jìngzhēng duìshǒu tōng, dǎozhì xiàngmù shībài.Someone inside the company tipped off a competitor, leading to the project's failure.
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