sau2 zi2 aau2 ceot1手指拗出

Jyutpingsau2 zi2 aau2 ceot1

Yalesáu jí áau chēut

Definition

To help outsiders or people not associated with oneself instead of helping those close to one.

colloquialpeoplefamily

How it's used

This idiom describes a specific betrayal of loyalty where someone prioritizes the interests of strangers or rivals over their own family or close group. It carries a strong sense of disappointment or moral condemnation. The imagery of a finger bending outward suggests a physical impossibility or a perversion of natural order, emphasizing that the behavior is unnatural and wrong.

Examples

keoi5佢seng4成jat6日sau2手zi2指aau2拗ceot1出，bong1幫ngoi6外jan4人do1多gwo3過bong1幫uk1屋kei2企jan4人。

He always favors outsiders over his own family.

nei5你zou6做me1咩sau2手zi2指aau2拗ceot1出aa4呀？zi6自gei2己jan4人sin1先hai6係zeoi3最zung6重jiu3要㗎。

Why are you siding with outsiders? Your own people are the most important.

Common phrases

seng4成jat6日sau2手zi2指aau2拗ceot1出

always favoring outsiders

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply being fair or objective. It specifically implies a lack of loyalty to one's own circle, so it is a loaded term that can easily cause offense.