zhǐ指pointlù鹿deerwéi为asmǎ马horse
To deliberately misrepresent something; to call a spade a spade.
Literal meaning
point (指) — deer (鹿) — as (为) — horse (马)
Origin
Refers to a story about Zhao Gao, a Qin dynasty official, who tested the loyalty of his court by presenting a deer as a horse to the emperor. A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
tā他zhǐ指lù鹿wéi为mǎ马，diān颠dǎo倒hēi黑bái白，shí实zài在kě可wù恶。
He deliberately misrepresented the truth and reversed right and wrong, which is really hateful.
zhè这zhǒng种zhǐ指lù鹿wéi为mǎ马de的xíng行wéi为，zuì最zhōng终huì会shòu受dào到chéng惩fá罚。
This kind of deliberate misrepresentation will eventually be punished.
Usage & nuances
Used to criticize someone who intentionally distorts the truth for their own benefit.
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