劈头盖脸

劈頭蓋臉

pītóugàiliǎn

idiom #43,327

Meanings

1 straight at the head and face; with full force
2 (of criticism, rain, blows) pouring down without mercy

Characters

to split; straight at

Examples

大雨劈头盖脸地砸下来。

Dà yǔ pītóugàiliǎn de zá xiàlái.

The heavy rain pelted down mercilessly.

老板劈头盖脸地骂了他一顿。

Lǎobǎn pītóugàiliǎn de mà le tā yí dùn.

The boss let loose a torrent of scolding on him.

Tips

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/下 (rain/pour). It intensifies the verb, signaling 'all at once, without mercy.'

Stroke Order

劈 pī

头 tóu

盖 gài

脸 liǎn