堂而皇之

táng'érhuángzhī
idiom #37,208

Meanings

  1. 1 openly and without shame; overtly
  2. 2 in a grand manner; making no attempt to hide

Examples

Tā táng'érhuángzhī de zǒu le jìn qù.
He walked right in without the slightest hesitation.
Xiǎotōu jìngrán táng'érhuángzhī de zuò'àn.
The thief actually committed the crime out in the open.
Tā bǎ cuòwù táng'érhuángzhī de dāngchéng lǐyóu.
He brazenly used his mistake as an excuse.

Tips

register
Usually carries a critical tone — something wrong being done openly as if it were legitimate. ('stately, grand') is used ironically here.

Stroke Order

táng
ér
huáng
zhī