jan5 se4 ceot1 dung6引蛇出洞

Jyutpingjan5 se4 ceot1 dung6

Yaleyáhn sèh chēut duhng

動詞

Definition

To lure an enemy or wrongdoer out of hiding to expose themselves.

colloquialother

How it's used

This idiom is frequently used in strategic or competitive contexts, such as business negotiations or gaming, rather than just military scenarios. It implies a calculated patience where one pretends to be vulnerable or unaware to trick an opponent into revealing their true intentions. It carries a sense of cunning and deliberate trap setting.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋gu3故ji3意lau4留dai1低po3破zaan6綻，soeng2想jan5引se4蛇ceot1出dung6洞zaa5咋。

They left flaws on purpose, just to lure the enemy out.

nei5你gam3咁joeng6樣zou6做，wui2會m4唔wui2會faan2反ji4而jan5引se4蛇ceot1出dung6洞㗎？

If you do that, won't it end up luring the enemy out instead?

Common phrases

bou6部cyu5署jan5引se4蛇ceot1出dung6洞

to plan a strategy to lure the enemy out

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe simply finding someone or catching them by surprise. It specifically requires the element of baiting or tricking the target into making the first move.