旁敲侧击 páng qiāo cè jī

DEFINITIONS

  1. to make insinuations
  2. to take an indirect approach (in making inquiries) (idiom)

CHARACTERS

旁 páng side; by side, close by, near
敲 qiāo strike, beat, pound, hammer; rap
侧 cè side; incline, slant, lean
击 jī strike, hit, beat; attack, fight