m4 sik6 joeng4 juk6 jat1 san1 sou1唔食羊肉一身臊
Jyutpingm4 sik6 joeng4 juk6 jat1 san1 sou1
Yalem̀h sihk yèuhng yuhk yāt sān sōu
Definition
To get into trouble or get a bad reputation despite being completely innocent.
colloquialother
How it's used
This idiom describes the unfair situation of being implicated in a scandal or receiving blame despite having no involvement. It relies on the imagery of a person who did not eat mutton but still carries the strong, lingering smell of it on their clothes. It is frequently used when someone is caught in the crossfire of a conflict or suffers the consequences of someone else's mistake.
Examples
You didn't do anything at all, why are you getting dragged into this trouble?
He clearly wasn't involved, but in the end, he still got blamed for it.
Related words
Common phrases
to end up being dragged into trouble
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe someone who is simply guilty by association through choice. It specifically highlights the frustration of being an innocent bystander who is dragged into a mess against their will.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
