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Definition
To loiter or ask questions in a shop without buying anything; figuratively, to cause trouble without contributing anything.
How it's used
Originally describing customers who loiter in a shop to waste staff time without making a purchase, this phrase has evolved into a general idiom for someone who creates obstacles or causes disruption without offering any constructive help. It carries a strong sense of annoyance towards people who interfere with progress while remaining unproductive themselves. The rhythm of the phrase makes it a punchy way to dismiss someone who is just being a nuisance.
Examples
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply browsing; it specifically implies that the person is actively causing a disturbance or wasting time with malicious or annoying intent.
Grammar color guide
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.
