caat3 bin1 kau4擦邊球擦边球
Jyutpingcaat3 bin1 kau4
Yalechaat bīn kàuh
Definition
An edge ball in sports, or figuratively, an action that skirts regulations or ethical boundaries.
- figurativean action that exploits loopholes or skirts the edge of regulations and ethics
- an edge ball in racket sports such as table tennis or tennis
colloquialother
How it's used
Originating from table tennis where a ball hitting the edge of the table is technically in play, this term has evolved into a common metaphor for exploiting loopholes. It describes actions that hover right on the edge of what is acceptable or legal without technically crossing the line. People often use it to criticize someone who is being sneaky or manipulative by staying just within the letter of the law while violating its spirit.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He is always pushing the boundaries, it is really hard to catch him out.
Is this advertisement skirting the rules?
Related words
Common phrases
to skirt the rules
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with simply breaking the rules, but the core of the term is that the action is technically permitted, even if it is frowned upon.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
