砸牌子

zápáizi

idiom

Meanings

1 to ruin one's reputation; to trash a brand's good name

Characters

Examples

这种假货再卖下去，老字号的牌子就砸了。

Zhè zhǒng jiǎhuò zài mài xiàqù, lǎozìhào de páizi jiù zá le.

If they keep selling these fakes, the old brand's reputation is going to be trashed.

做医生千万不能砸自己的牌子。

Zuò yīshēng qiānwàn bù néng zá zìjǐ de páizi.

As a doctor, you absolutely cannot ruin your own reputation.

Tips

memory

牌子 originally meant the wooden signboard hung outside a shop. Smashing the signboard = destroying the name the business is known by. The image still works for personal reputations today.

Stroke Order

砸 zá

牌 pái

子 zǐ