xiàng​zhuāng​wǔ​jiàn

to have an ulterior motive

Senses

项庄舞剑/ 項莊舞劍 xiàng​zhuāng​wǔ​jiàn to have an ulterior motive

(idiom) an elaborate deception hiding malicious intent; literally means "Xiang Zhuang performs a sword dance," referring to a historical plot to assassinate 刘邦 liú​bāng during the 鸿门宴 hóng​mén​yàn feast

References

see 项庄舞剑/項莊舞劍 项庄舞剑,意在沛公/項莊舞劍,意在沛公