颐指气使 — “To order people about with an arrogant and condescending attitude”
颐指气使 is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to order people about with an arrogant and condescending attitude”. Often by merely gesturing with the chin or showing an imperious expression, without speaking. Literally, “to direct with the chin and command with an air of authority”.
颐指气使 Pronunciation and Pinyin
颐指气使 Character Breakdown
Stroke OrderExample Sentence with 颐指气使
Origin and Story of 颐指气使
In the late Tang Dynasty, Zhu Wen assassinated Prime Minister Cui Yin and forced Emperor Zhaozong to move the capital to Luoyang.
Uneasy, Zhu Wen dispatched Li Zhen to Luoyang to keep an eye on Emperor Zhaozong and all the officials.
Relying on Zhu Wen's power, Li Zhen became arrogant and looked down upon everyone. He often bossed people around with a tilt of his chin and an imperious attitude, reprimanding anyone he found displeasing.
Idioms Related to 颐指气使
Synonyms of 颐指气使
Antonyms of 颐指气使
More idioms starting with 颐
- yí颐yǎng养tiān天nián年live out one's remaining years in peace
- yí颐yǎng养jīng精shén神recuperate and rejuvenate spirit
- yí颐xìng性yǎng养shòu寿Nourish spirit and cultivate longevity
- yí颐zhǐ指rú如yì意Direct others as one pleases
- yí颐zhǐ指jìn进tuì退arrogantly direct with a chin gesture
- yí颐zhǐ指fēng风shǐ使haughtily direct others with gestures
- yí颐shén神yǎng养shòu寿Nourish spirit and cultivate longevity
- yí颐shén神yǎng养xìng性cultivate spirit and disposition
- yí颐shén神yǎng养qì气nourish spirit and cultivate vital energy
- yí颐jīng精yǎng养shén神rest and recuperate to nourish spirit
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Open the tool →Questions about 颐指气使
What does 颐指气使 mean?
颐指气使 (yí zhǐ qì shǐ) is a Chinese idiom (chengyu) meaning “to order people about with an arrogant and condescending attitude”.
How do you pronounce 颐指气使?
颐指气使 is pronounced yí zhǐ qì shǐ in Mandarin Chinese.
What does 颐指气使 literally mean?
Literally, 颐指气使 means “to direct with the chin and command with an air of authority”. It is used to mean “to order people about with an arrogant and condescending attitude”.
Where does 颐指气使 come from?
颐指气使 comes from a classical Chinese story dating back to ancient China. The full story is on this page.
What is the Chinese definition of 颐指气使?
颐指：动下巴示意，指挥别人；气使：用神情气色支使人。不说话而用面部表示表情示意。形容有权势的人指挥别人的傲慢态度。