ming4 jyu6 sou3 dei6名譽掃地名誉扫地
Jyutpingming4 jyu6 sou3 dei6
Yalemìhng yuh sou deih
Definition
To have one's reputation thoroughly damaged or dragged through the mud.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom carries a heavy sense of finality and public shame, often implying that the person's social standing is beyond repair. It is frequently used in news reports or gossip about public figures who have been caught in serious misconduct. Unlike milder expressions for losing face, this phrase specifically targets the total destruction of one's professional or moral credibility.
Examples
His reputation was dragged through the mud because of this scandal.
How much more do you want to ruin your own reputation?
Related words
Common phrases
to end up with one's reputation ruined
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply losing face, which is 冇面. 名譽掃地 is much more severe and permanent, implying a total collapse of one's public image rather than a temporary embarrassment.
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.
