lat1 sau2 zoeng2 gwai2甩手掌櫃甩手掌柜
Jyutpinglat1 sau2 zoeng2 gwai2
Yalelāt sáu jéung gwái
Definition
An arm-flinging shopkeeper; an hands-off supervisor or someone who delegates work but does nothing themselves.
- a hands-off supervisor who delegates everything to subordinates
- figurativesomeone who tells others to do work but never gets their own hands dirty
colloquialworkpeople
How it's used
This term carries a strong sense of criticism or mockery, implying that the person is shirking their responsibilities while still holding authority. It is frequently used in workplace settings to describe a boss who delegates all tasks to subordinates and refuses to get involved even when problems arise. The imagery of swinging one's arms suggests a person who has cleared their hands of all work.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
He has become a hands-off manager who ignores everything.
Don't be a hands-off manager, help check the progress.
Related words
Common phrases
to act as a hands-off manager
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply good at delegating tasks or empowering their team. It specifically implies a negative, lazy, or irresponsible attitude towards management.
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.
