zai3 kei4祭旗

Jyutpingzai3 kei4

Yalejai kèih

動詞

Definition

To sacrifice a scapegoat, or to offer a sacrifice to the banner.

figurativeto find a scapegoat; to blame someone else to avoid responsibility
historicalto offer a sacrifice to the war banner before a military campaign

colloquialpeoplework

How it's used

Originally referring to the ancient military ritual of sacrificing a prisoner to bless a flag before battle, this term is now almost exclusively used in a figurative, cynical sense. It describes the act of punishing or sacrificing a subordinate to appease public anger or to take the fall for a larger failure. It carries a strong connotation of injustice and cold-blooded corporate or political maneuvering.

Examples

keoi5佢dei6哋wan2搵zo2咗go3個sat6實zaap6習sang1生zai3祭kei4旗。

They used the intern as a scapegoat.

bin1邊go3個wui2會gam3咁m4唔hou2好coi2彩jiu3要zai3祭kei4旗aa3呀？

Who is going to be so unlucky as to be the scapegoat?

Common phrases

wan2搵jan4人zai3祭kei4旗

to find someone to be a scapegoat

Common mistake

Do not use this word in a literal religious context unless you are specifically discussing historical or ritualistic practices, as it will sound bizarrely aggressive in everyday conversation.