To go back on one's word and profit from it; to break a promise for personal gain.
他承诺会帮助大家，结果却食言而肥，让所有人都感到失望。
He promised to help everyone, but then he broke his word and profited from it, leaving everyone disappointed.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, Meng Wubo, a high official of the State of Lu, was notoriously untrustworthy in his speech. Duke Ai of Lu was displeased with him, so he took the corpulent Grand Master Guo Chong on a visit to the State of Yue.
Meng Wubo was very jealous of Guo Chong. During a banquet hosted by Duke Ai for his officials, Meng Wubo slandered Guo Chong, remarking that Guo Chong was very fat.
Duke Ai of Lu replied, "With so many broken promises (literally, 'eating too many words'), how could one not grow fat?" Meng Wubo knew that Duke Ai was satirizing him.
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