Definition
马脚 literally means 'horse's foot' but is a fixed idiom meaning 'a slip or clue that accidentally reveals a hidden secret or true intention.' It is most commonly used in the phrase 露出马脚 (lù chū mǎ jiǎo, 'to let the cat out of the bag' or 'to show one's true colors'). You can also use it after verbs like 留下 (to leave behind) or 发现 (to discover). The word is informal but widely used in both speech and writing.
n.
a slip or clue that gives away a secretsomething that reveals the truth
Examples
- 马脚。Tā shuōhuà shí bù xiǎoxīn lù chū le mǎ jiǎ.He accidentally let the cat out of the bag while talking.
- 马脚。Tāmen de jìhuà yīnwèi yí gè mǎ jiǎ ér shībài le.Their plan failed because of a slip that gave them away.
- ，马脚。Tā yǐwéi zuò de tiānyīwúfèng, dàn háishì liú xià le mǎ jiǎ.She thought she had covered all traces, but she still left a clue behind.
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