gwo3 ho4 sap1 goek3過河濕腳过河濕脚
Jyutpinggwo3 ho4 sap1 goek3
Yalegwo hòh sāp geuk
Definition
To take a commission or cut from a financial transaction or deal.
colloquialmoneywork
How it's used
This idiom carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is taking an opportunistic or slightly unethical cut from a transaction. It is specifically used for middleman activities where someone extracts a fee or benefit simply by being involved in the process. While it sounds like a literal description of crossing a river, it is strictly used in a business or financial context.
Examples
He acted as a middleman and took a cut, making quite a bit of profit.
Related words
Common phrases
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a legitimate, transparent service fee or a professional commission. It implies a sense of under-the-table dealing or taking advantage of a situation for personal gain.
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.
