挡箭牌

擋箭牌
dǎngjiànpái
noun #20,475

Meanings

  1. 1 arrow-blocking shield
  2. 2 (figuratively) pretext
  3. 3 cover
  4. 4 scapegoat
  5. 5 excuse used to deflect blame

Examples

Tā bǎ gōngzuò fánmáng dàngzuò bù huí jiā de dǎngjiànpái.
He used being busy with work as a cover for not coming home.
Bùyào bǎ háizi dāng dǎngjiànpái, zhège wèntí xūyào zhímiàn.
Don't use the children as an excuse — this problem needs to be faced directly.

Tips

memory
Literally: (to block) + (arrow) + (shield/board) = arrow-blocking shield. In modern usage it means any pretext or excuse one hides behind, just as a shield blocks incoming arrows.

Stroke Order

dǎng
jiàn
pái