tiān天heavenhuā花flowersluàn乱disorderlyzhuì坠fall
To describe something extravagantly or hyperbolically; to exaggerate wildly.
Literal meaning
heaven (天) — flowers (花) — disorderly (乱) — fall (坠)
Origin
Originally used in Buddhism to describe the scattering of flowers by the heavens as a sign of auspiciousness, but now often used to describe exaggerated or boastful speech.
Examples
tā他shuō说huà话zǒng总shì是tiān天huā花luàn乱zhuì坠，bù不kě可xìn信。
He always speaks extravagantly and is not to be trusted.
bù不yào要bèi被tā他tiān天huā花luàn乱zhuì坠de的miáo描shù述suǒ所mí迷huò惑。
Don't be fooled by his flowery descriptions.
Usage & nuances
Usually used negatively to describe speech that is exaggerated, boastful, or unreliable.
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