上下其手 shàng xià qí shǒu play tricks behind the scenes

Explanation

这个成语的意思是指暗中玩弄手段，串通作弊，使自己或他人得到好处。

This idiom means secretly using tricks and colluding to cheat, so that you or someone else can get benefits.

Origin Story

话说，春秋战国时期，楚国公子围与大夫皇颉在郑国作战时，俘获了郑国大夫穿封戍。后来公子围向伯州犁争功，说自己俘获了穿封戍，而穿封戍则说自己被公子围俘获。伯州犁想要偏袒公子围，便想了一个计策，他对穿封戍说："这位是公子围，我们楚王的贵介兄弟。"说话时，伯州犁将手抬得很高，以示敬意。而介绍穿封戍时，伯州犁却将手放得很低，说："这位就是穿封戍，他是我们楚国的边境县令。"结果，穿封戍明白伯州犁的意图，也就承认自己被公子围俘获了。这就是"上下其手"这个成语的由来，比喻暗中玩弄手段，徇私枉法，以达到自己的目的。

huà shuō, chūn qiū zhàn guó shí qī, chǔ guó gōng zǐ wéi yǔ dài fú huáng jié zài zhèng guó zhàn zhàn shí, fú huò le zhèng guó dài fú chuān fēng shù. hòu lái gōng zǐ wéi xiàng bó zhōu lí zhēng gōng, shuō zì jǐ fú huò le chuān fēng shù, ér chuān fēng shù zé shuō zì jǐ bèi gōng zǐ wéi fú huò. bó zhōu lí xiǎng yào piān tǎn gōng zǐ wéi, biàn xiǎng le yī ge jì cè, tā duì chuān fēng shù shuō: "zhè wèi shì gōng zǐ wéi, wǒ men chǔ wáng de guì jiè xiōng dì." shuō huà shí, bó zhōu lí jiāng shǒu tái de hěn gāo, yǐ shì jìng yì. ér jiè shào chuān fēng shù shí, bó zhōu lí què jiāng shǒu fàng de hěn dī, shuō: "zhè wèi jiù shì chuān fēng shù, tā shì wǒ men chǔ guó de biān jìng xiàn lìng." jié guǒ, chuān fēng shù míng bai bó zhōu lí de yì tú, yě jiù chéng rèn zì jǐ bèi gōng zǐ wéi fú huò le. zhè jiù shì "shàng xià qí shǒu" zhège chéng yǔ de yóu lái, bǐ yù àn zhōng wán nòng shǒu duàn, xùn sī wǎng fǎ, yǐ dá dào zì jǐ de mù dì.

During the Warring States Period in ancient China, Prince Wei of Chu and the official Huang Jie captured Chuan Fengshu, an official of the state of Zheng, in a battle against Zheng. Later, Prince Wei claimed credit for capturing Chuan Fengshu, while Chuan Fengshu insisted that he had been captured by Prince Wei. Bo Zhouli, the prime minister, wanted to favor Prince Wei and came up with a scheme. He said to Chuan Fengshu: "This is Prince Wei, the honorable brother of our King of Chu." When saying this, Bo Zhouli held his hand high to show respect. However, when introducing Chuan Fengshu, Bo Zhouli lowered his hand and said: "This is Chuan Fengshu, the magistrate of our border county of Chu." Chuan Fengshu realized Bo Zhouli's intentions and admitted to being captured by Prince Wei. This is how the idiom "上下其手" came about, meaning secretly using tricks and bending the law to achieve one's goals.

Usage

这个成语常用在指责某些人暗中作弊、玩弄手段，用来达到不正当的目的。

zhège chéng yǔ cháng yòng zài zhǐ zé mǒu xiē rén àn zhōng zuò bì, wán nòng shǒu duàn, yòng lái dá dào bù zhèng dāng de mù dì.

This idiom is often used to accuse people who are secretly cheating and playing tricks to achieve illegitimate goals.

Examples

• 这场比赛结果蹊跷，有人怀疑他们上下其手，暗箱操作。

  zhè chǎng bǐ sài jié guǒ qī qiāo, yǒu rén huái yí tā men shàng xià qí shǒu, àn xiāng cāo zuò.

  The result of this game is suspicious, some people suspect that they are playing tricks behind the scenes.

• 这个项目竞争激烈，据说有人上下其手，想尽办法捞取利益。

  zhège xiàng mù jìng zhēng jī liè, jù shuō yǒu rén shàng xià qí shǒu, xiǎng jìn bàn fǎ láo qǔ lì yì.

  This project is highly competitive, it is said that some people are trying to get benefits by any means.

• 在考试中，作弊者通常会上下其手，企图蒙混过关。

  zài kǎo shì zhōng, zuò bì zhě tóng cháng huì shàng xià qí shǒu, qǐ tú méng hùn guò guān.

  Cheaters in exams often resort to all sorts of tricks to get away with it.

Related Idioms

• 暗箱操作

• 弄虚作假

• 坑蒙拐骗

Opposite Idioms

• 光明正大

• 坦坦荡荡