mián​lǐ​zhēn

needle in cotton wool

  • created reference approved 绵里针/綿裡針 → 绵里藏针/綿裡藏針 (variant) — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    绵里针 / 綿裡針 mián​lǐ​zhēn

    绵里藏针 / 綿裡藏針 mián​lǐ​cáng​zhēn

    variant

    Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

    created reference

  • created reference approved 绵里针/綿裡針 → 绵里裹针/綿裏裹針 (variant) — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    绵里针 / 綿裡針 mián​lǐ​zhēn

    绵里裹针 / 綿裏裹針 mián​lǐ​guǒ​zhēn

    variant

    Changed: source (simp), source (trad), source pinyin, target (simp), target (trad), target pinyin, type

    created reference

  • created sense approved 绵里针/綿裡針 · mián​lǐ​zhēn · needle in cotton wool — "Initial import from upstream dictionary"

    绵里针 / 綿裡針

    mián​lǐ​zhēn

    needle in cotton wool

    (metaphor) an iron fist in a velvet glove; internal strength or firmness hidden behind a gentle appearance; cruelty or a sharp sting hidden behind a friendly appearance; a wolf in sheep's clothing

    绵 (literal) → 绵/綿 · mián · silk floss 里 (literal) → 里/裡 · lǐ · inside 针 (literal) → 针/針 · zhēn · needle

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

    created sense