巧立名目
qiǎo​lì​míng​mù

to concoct pretexts

  • created sense approved 巧立名目 · qiǎo​lì​míng​mù · to concoct pretexts — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    巧立名目

    qiǎo​lì​míng​mù

    to concoct pretexts

    to fabricate various excuses or invent new labels to achieve improper goals; often used in contexts like padding an expense account or creating unfair taxes

    巧 (literal) → 巧 · qiǎo · deceitful 立 (literal) → 立 · lì · to establish 名目 (literal) → 名目 · míng​mù · pretext

    Changed: simplified, traditional, gloss, definition, pinyin, variant pinyin, variants, separable parts, decomposition

    created sense