劈头盖脸

劈頭蓋臉

pītóu-gàiliǎn

idiom #43,327

Meanings

HSK 5

老板劈头盖脸地骂了他一顿。

Lǎobǎn pītóu-gàiliǎn de mà le tā yí dùn.

The boss let loose a torrent of scolding on him.

HSK 7-9

大雨劈头盖脸地砸下来。

Dàyǔ pītóu-gàiliǎn de zá xiàlái.

The heavy rain pelted down mercilessly.

history

Used in 《水浒全传》 ch. 14: 夺过士兵手里的棍棒，劈头劈脸便打 - 'he snatched the soldier's cudgel and rained blows on his head and face.' Later fixed as 劈头盖脸.

usage

Most often used adverbially with verbs of impact: 骂 (scold), 打 (hit), 砸 (pound). It intensifies the verb, signaling 'all at once, without mercy.'

劈 pī

头 tóu

盖 gài

脸 liǎn