tiu1 tung1 ngaan5 mei4挑通眼眉

Jyutpingtiu1 tung1 ngaan5 mei4

Yaletīu tūng ngáahn mèih

形容詞

Definition

Sharp-witted, experienced, and highly perceptive; able to read people and see right through them.

colloquialpeopledescriptions

How it's used

This idiom implies a level of worldly wisdom and street smarts that comes from experience. It is often used to describe someone who is difficult to manipulate or deceive because they can read between the lines of a situation. The imagery evokes a person whose eyes are so sharp they can see through the eyebrows of others to their true intentions.

Examples

keoi5佢hou2好tiu1挑tung1通ngaan5眼mei4眉，jat1一tai2睇zau6就zi1知nei5你soeng2想dim2點。

He is very sharp; he knows exactly what you are thinking just by looking at you.

nei5你ji5以wai4為aak3呃dou3到keoi5佢？keoi5佢gam3咁tiu1挑tung1通ngaan5眼mei4眉，bin1邊jau5有gam3咁jik6易aa4呀。

Do you think you can trick him? He is so sharp, it is not that easy.

Common phrases

hou2好tiu1挑tung1通ngaan5眼mei4眉

very sharp and observant

gau3夠saai3晒tiu1挑tung1通ngaan5眼mei4眉

sufficiently sharp and experienced

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply intelligent or book-smart. It specifically refers to social intuition and the ability to detect ulterior motives or hidden agendas.