抓辫子

抓辮子

zhuābiànzi

idiom

Meanings

1 to seize on someone's weak point; to exploit a flaw as leverage
2 to catch someone out

Characters

Examples

领导就喜欢抓辫子，谁说错话就揪着不放。

Lǐngdǎo jiù xǐhuān zhuābiànzi, shéi shuō cuò huà jiù jiū zhe bú fàng.

The boss loves to pounce on slip-ups — say the wrong thing and he won't let go.

这份报告再看一遍，别让人抓辫子。

Zhè fèn bàogào zài kàn yí biàn, bié ràng rén zhuābiànzi.

Read this report once more — don't give anyone something to latch onto.

Tips

memory

Literally 'to grab a braid' — once you have the pigtail in your fist, the other person can't escape. Vivid for the moment someone spots a weakness and holds it over you.

Stroke Order

抓 zhuā

辫 biàn

子 zǐ