露出马脚 lù chū mǎ jiǎo

to show one's true self; to give oneself away

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency Unknown

Definitions

  1. 1. to reveal the cloven foot (idiom); to unmask one's true nature
  2. 2. to give the game away

Characters

Character Meaning
露 lù HSK 6
to show; to reveal; to expose
出 chū HSK 1
to go out; to come out
马 mǎ HSK 3
horse; surname Ma
脚 jiǎo HSK 3
foot; leg (of an animal or an object); base (of an object)