zok3 wai1 zok3 fuk1作威作福
Jyutpingzok3 wai1 zok3 fuk1
Yalejok wāi jok fūk
Definition
To show off one's power and influence to bully and dominate others.
colloquialpeopleemotion
How it's used
This idiom carries a strong negative connotation, specifically describing someone who abuses their authority to intimidate others. It is often used to criticize people in positions of power who treat subordinates with contempt. Unlike simply being bossy, it implies a sense of arrogance and a misuse of one's status.
Examples
Ever since he got promoted, he has been acting like a tyrant, which is really annoying.
Stop throwing your weight around here; nobody is afraid of you.
Related words
Common phrases
a person who acts like a tyrant
Common mistake
Learners often mistake this for a general term for being strict or demanding, but it specifically requires the element of abusing power or status to bully others.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
