wu4 gaa2 fu2 wai1狐假虎威
Jyutpingwu4 gaa2 fu2 wai1
Yalewùh gá fú wāi
Definition
To bully others by relying on the power or influence of someone authoritative.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
This idiom is used to describe someone who lacks genuine authority but acts arrogantly by leveraging their connection to a powerful person. It carries a strong negative connotation of cowardice and hypocrisy. It is frequently applied to office environments where a subordinate acts bossy because they are close to a manager.
Examples
He is always acting like a bully using someone else's power, it is really annoying.
Stop acting like you have power because of your boss, nobody is actually afraid of you.
Related words
Common phrases
always acting like a bully using someone else's power
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a compliment about someone being clever or influential, but it is strictly a criticism of someone being a bully who is hiding behind someone else's status.
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.
