To give a distorted interpretation of a text or statement; to misinterpret the original meaning by reading in ideas that are not there. Originally refers to a story from [[韩非子|韓非子|han2 fei1 zi3]] where a letter from the city of [[郢|郢|ying3]] inadvertently included the words "hold up the candle", which the minister of [[燕|燕|yan1]] mistakenly interpreted as advice to "promote the wise".