掛羊頭賣狗肉 guà yáng tóu mài gǒu ròu

DEFINITIONS

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

CHARACTERS

掛 guà hang, suspend; suspense
羊 yáng
HSK 2
sheep, goat; KangXi radical 123
頭 tóu head; top; chief, first; boss
賣 mài sell; betray; show off
狗 gǒu
HSK 1
dog, canis familiaris
肉 ròu
HSK 2
flesh; meat; KangXi radical 130