揭短

jiēduǎn

verb #96,877

Meanings

1 to expose someone's faults
2 to call out shortcomings
3 to air dirty laundry

Characters

to uncover; to expose

short; shortcomings

Examples

当众揭短让他下不来台。

Dāngzhòng jiēduǎn ràng tā xiàbùláitái.

Calling out his faults in public left him unable to save face.

朋友之间不要互相揭短。

Péngyǒu zhījiān bùyào hùxiāng jiēduǎn.

Friends shouldn't expose each other's weaknesses.

Tips

memory

揭 (jiē) = 'to lift/uncover' (think 揭幕 jiēmù 'unveil'); 短 (duǎn) here means 'shortcomings'. Together: 'to lift up and reveal the short bits' — i.e. expose someone's flaws. Almost always pejorative.

Stroke Order

揭 jiē

短 duǎn