baai2 ming4 geoi1 maa5擺明車馬摆明车马
Jyutpingbaai2 ming4 geoi1 maa5
Yalebáai mìhng gēui máh
Definition
To act openly, make one's intentions clear, and put all one's cards on the table.
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from Chinese chess, this idiom describes a situation where someone stops hiding their motives and makes their stance clear. It carries a sense of boldness or defiance, often implying that the person is ready for the consequences of their transparency. It is frequently used when someone is acting in a way that is clearly meant to provoke or challenge another party.
Examples
He is openly gunning for the position and doesn't care who knows it.
Do you really need to be so confrontational and make your opposition to him so obvious?
Related words
Common phrases
to openly target someone
to openly confront someone
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being honest or direct. This phrase specifically implies a strategic or confrontational intent, often used when someone is challenging an authority figure or an opponent, rather than just stating a fact.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
