fong3 wu4 lou2放葫蘆放葫芦
Definition
To bluff, deceive, or deliberately mislead someone with false appearances.
How it's used
Originating from the practice of medicine peddlers in the past who would carry a gourd, or 葫蘆, to attract attention while selling fake or ineffective remedies, this expression has evolved to describe any situation where someone makes a false show of strength or knowledge. It carries a slightly playful or dismissive tone, suggesting the person is trying to act tough or important without any real substance to back it up. Unlike simply lying, it implies a performance or a strategic attempt to intimidate or impress others.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 吹水, which is a more general term for chatting or boasting. While 吹水 can be harmless social banter, 放葫蘆 specifically implies a deceptive intent to make someone believe something that is not true.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
