giu6 coeng4 goek3撬長腳撬长脚

Jyutpinggiu6 coeng4 goek3

Yalegiuh chèuhng geuk

Definition

To steal someone else's lover or romantic partner.

colloquialpeopleemotion

How it's used

This idiom uses the imagery of prying or levering something away to describe the act of aggressively pursuing someone who is already in a committed relationship. It carries a strong negative connotation and is typically used to gossip about or criticize someone's behavior in romantic matters. While it is widely understood, it is quite blunt and should be used with caution in polite company.

Examples

teng1聽gong2講keoi5佢giu6撬coeng4長goek3腳，coeng2搶zo2咗jan4人dei6哋go3個naam4男pang4朋jau5友。

I heard she stole someone's boyfriend.

nei5你m4唔hou2好heoi3去giu6撬coeng4長goek3腳aa4呀，gam3咁joeng2樣hou2好m4唔dou6道dak1德㗎。

Don't go stealing someone's partner, that's very immoral.

Common phrases

giu6撬jan4人coeng4牆goek3腳

to steal someone's partner

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a literal action involving legs, but it is strictly a metaphorical idiom for romantic interference. Do not use it to describe physical movement or exercise.