xiàng​zhuāng​wǔ​jiàn​zhì​zài​pèi​gōng

an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent

Senses

项庄舞剑,志在沛公/ 項莊舞劍,志在沛公 xiàng​zhuāng​wǔ​jiàn​zhì​zài​pèi​gōng an elaborate deception to hide malicious intent

literally, Xiang Zhuang performs a sword dance but his mind is set on the Duke of Pei; refers to a famous assassination plot at the 鸿门宴 hóng​mén​yàn, describing a situation where someone's actions are a cover for their true, harmful intentions

References

see 项庄舞剑,志在沛公/項莊舞劍,志在沛公 鸿门宴/鴻門宴
see 项庄舞剑,志在沛公/項莊舞劍,志在沛公 沛公/沛公
see 项庄舞剑,志在沛公/項莊舞劍,志在沛公 刘邦/劉邦