大摇大摆

大搖大擺

dàyáodàbǎi

idiom

Meanings

1 to strut; to swagger
2 walking with an air of self-importance

Characters

to sway; to rock

to swing; to sway

Examples

他大摇大摆地走进办公室，好像什么事都没发生。

Tā dàyáodàbǎi de zǒujìn bàngōngshì, hǎoxiàng shénme shì dōu méi fāshēng.

He strutted into the office as if nothing had happened.

小偷居然大摇大摆地从前门走了出去。

Xiǎotōu jūrán dàyáodàbǎi de cóng qiánmén zǒu le chūqu.

The thief actually swaggered right out through the front door.

别大摇大摆的，这里是图书馆。

Bié dàyáodàbǎi de, zhèlǐ shì túshūguǎn.

Don't swagger around — this is a library.

Tips

history

From Wu Jingzi's Qing-dynasty novel 《儒林外史》 (The Scholars), chapter 5: 次日早晨，大摇大摆出堂 — a magistrate strides pompously out to court. The image is of hips and shoulders swinging with theatrical self-satisfaction.

usage

Almost always pejorative — describes someone walking with too much display, either arrogantly or (like the thief) brazenly. Neutral 'walking confidently' is 昂首阔步.

Stroke Order

大 dà

摇 yáo

摆 bǎi