taan4 dou3 syu6 jip6 dou1 lok6彈到樹葉都落弹到树叶都落

Jyutpingtaan4 dou3 syu6 jip6 dou1 lok6

Yaletàahn dou syuh yihp dōu lohk

Definition

To criticize excessively or be overly judgmental.

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How it's used

This idiomatic expression vividly describes someone being extremely harsh or nitpicky, implying that the criticism is so intense it could make leaves fall off a tree. It is used exclusively to describe verbal feedback or fault finding rather than physical destruction. The tone is informal and often used to defend someone who is being unfairly targeted by a perfectionist or a bully.

Examples

keoi5佢fan2份bou3報gou3告bei3畀lou5老sai3細taan4彈dou3到syu6樹jip6葉dou1都lok6落。

His report was criticized so heavily by the boss that it was torn to shreds.

nei5你sai2使m4唔sai2使taan4彈dou3到syu6樹jip6葉dou1都lok6落aa4呀？

Do you really need to be so harsh and critical?

Common phrases

bei2畀jan4人taan4彈dou3到syu6樹jip6葉dou1都lok6落

to be criticized severely by someone

Common mistake

Do not use this phrase to describe literal destruction or physical force, as it is strictly a metaphor for verbal criticism. It is also not used to describe constructive feedback, but rather excessive or mean spirited nitpicking.