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东窗事发

東窗事發
dōngchuāngshìfā
idiom #39,542

Meanings

  1. 1 (of a plot) to be exposed (idiom)
  2. 2 the scheme has come to light
  3. 3 the secret is out

Examples

东窗事发后，贪官被抓了起来。
Dōngchuāngshìfā hòu, tānguān bèi zhuā le qǐlái.
After the scheme was exposed, the corrupt official was arrested.
他以为没人知道，没想到东窗事发。
Tā yǐwéi méi rén zhīdào, méi xiǎngdào dōngchuāngshìfā.
He thought no one knew, but then the whole thing came to light.
骗局终于东窗事发。
Piànjú zhōngyú dōngchuāngshìfā.
The scam was finally exposed.

Tips

history
From the Yuan play 《东窗事犯》 and later Ming geography 《西湖游览志馀》: Song-dynasty traitor Qin Hui plotted the murder of general Yue Fei under the east window of his home with his wife. After dying, Qin Hui supposedly sent a message from the underworld: 东窗事发矣 — 'the east window affair has come out.' The idiom has meant 'the plot is exposed' ever since.
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Always about wrongdoing — crimes, corruption, affairs, fraud. Strongly negative (from the criminal's perspective). Natural in news reports and narratives, common in crime and political contexts.

Stroke Order

东 dōng
窗 chuāng
事 shì
发 fā