zeng1 gwo3 mou5 mei5 se4精過冇尾蛇精过冇尾蛇

Jyutpingzeng1 gwo3 mou5 mei5 se4

Yalejēng gwo móuh méih sèh

Definition

Extremely cunning, sneaky, and crafty.

slangpeopleslang

How it's used

This idiom relies on the folk belief that a snake without a tail is impossible to catch or predict because it lacks a clear end to grab onto. It is used to describe someone who is exceptionally sharp, manipulative, or difficult to outsmart. The tone is often cautionary, implying that the person in question is someone you should not trust blindly.

Examples

keoi5佢go3個jan4人zeng1精gwo3過mou5冇mei5尾se4蛇，nei5你siu2小sam1心di1啲aa4呀。

He is as cunning as a fox, you better be careful.

bin1邊go3個gau3夠keoi5佢zeng1精gwo3過mou5冇mei5尾se4蛇aa4呀？

Who can possibly be more crafty than him?

Common phrases

zan1真hai6係zeng1精gwo3過mou5冇mei5尾se4蛇

really as cunning as a snake without a tail

Common mistake

Do not use this to describe someone who is simply intelligent or smart in a positive way. It carries a strong connotation of being sly, untrustworthy, or calculating, so it can be offensive if used to describe a friend or colleague in a professional setting.