暗送秋波

ànsòng-qiūbō
idiom

Meanings

  1. 1 to make eyes at someone in secret
  2. 2 to make secret overtures

Examples

HSK 6
Yànhuì shàng, tā yìzhí xiàng tā ànsòng-qiūbō.
At the banquet she kept making eyes at him.
HSK 6
Biǎomiànshang liǎng jiā gōngsī shì duìshǒu, qíshí zǎojiù zài ànsòng-qiūbō, shāngliang hébìng le.
On the surface the two companies are rivals, but they have long been making secret overtures and talking about a merger.

Tips

culture
秋波, 'autumn ripples', is a classical image for a woman's bright, clear eyes, so the phrase first meant flirting in secret. Today it is just as often said of companies, teams or governments quietly courting a rival.

Stroke Order

暗 àn
送 sòng
秋 qiū
波 bō