挂羊头卖狗肉 guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu

fig. to cheat; dishonest advertising

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 82007th word

Definitions

  1. 1. fig. to cheat
  2. 2. dishonest advertising
  3. 3. wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue
  4. 4. lit. to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiom)

Characters

Character Meaning
挂 guà HSK 4
to hang or suspend (from a hook etc)
羊 yáng HSK 2
sheep; goat; surname Yang
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
卖 mài HSK 2
to sell; to show off or flaunt; to betray
狗 gǒu HSK 1
dog
肉 ròu HSK 2
meat; flesh; pulp (of a fruit)