To make an indirect accusation; to criticize someone by ostensibly criticizing another person or thing.
他虽然嘴上说的是工作中的一些小问题，但大家都明白他是在指槐骂柳，表达对领导决策的不满。
Although he was ostensibly talking about some minor issues in the work, everyone understood that he was implicitly criticizing the manager's decisions.
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