挂羊头卖狗肉

掛羊頭賣狗肉
guàyángtóumàigǒuròu
idiom #97,662

Meanings

  1. 1 to hang a sheep's head and sell dog meat
  2. 2 to advertise one thing and sell another
  3. 3 to misrepresent under a false banner

Examples

Zhè jiā diàn guàyángtóumàigǒuròu, míngbùfùshí.
This shop advertises one thing and sells another — its name doesn't match the goods.
Yǒuxiē péixùn jīgòu guàyángtóumàigǒuròu, piànqǔ xuéshēng xuéfèi.
Some training institutions misrepresent themselves to swindle tuition from students.

Tips

memory
Picture a butcher with a sheep's head displayed at the entrance — but the meat for sale inside is actually dog. Classic bait-and-switch image.

Stroke Order

guà
yáng
tóu
mài
gǒu
ròu