paau1 long6 tau4拋浪頭抛浪头
Jyutpingpaau1 long6 tau4
Yalepāau lohng tàuh
Definition
To bluff, act tough, or show off one's strength before a fight or an argument.
colloquialpeopleslang
How it's used
This expression captures the specific act of posturing or using aggressive rhetoric to intimidate someone before a confrontation actually occurs. It implies that the person is putting on a show of strength or bravado that is likely empty or exaggerated. It is frequently used to dismiss someone who is trying to act tough to gain an upper hand in a dispute.
Examples
He is always bluffing, but he actually has no substance at all.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a literal action involving water or physical objects. It is strictly a metaphorical term used for verbal posturing and psychological intimidation, not for actual physical throwing.
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.
