加油添醋 add fuel and vinegar
Explanation
在叙述或说话时,故意添加一些不存在的内容,以夸大或渲染事件,使之更引人注目或更具戏剧性。
In narration or speech, deliberately adding some non-existent content to exaggerate or dramatize events, making them more eye-catching or dramatic.
Origin Story
从前,村里有个爱说大话的李大叔,他总喜欢把一些小事夸大其词。有一次,他去集市上卖了只鸡,回来后,他绘声绘色地向邻居们讲述他的“丰功伟绩”:他先描述了鸡的肥壮,说那鸡比其他鸡大一倍;接着,他补充了鸡的颜色,说那鸡羽毛颜色鲜艳无比;最后,他又添油加醋地讲述了鸡的叫声,说那鸡叫声清脆嘹亮,吸引了所有人的目光。邻居们听了都觉得好笑,纷纷表示不信,李大叔却依然津津乐道。其实,那只是一只普通的鸡。李大叔的故事,就如同这加油添醋的成语一样,把一件微不足道的事情说得夸张又离奇。
Once upon a time, there was an old man named Mr. Li in a village who was known for exaggerating his stories. One day, he sold a chicken at the market. When he came back, he proudly told his neighbors about his "achievement." He described the chicken as exceptionally large and strong, with beautiful feathers and an unusually clear voice. The neighbors laughed at him because everyone knew it was just an ordinary chicken. Mr. Li's story is a perfect example of the idiom "jiāyóutiāncù" - something insignificant is inflated into something grand and extraordinary.
Usage
常用来形容说话或写文章时夸大其词,或故意添加细节以增强故事的趣味性或戏剧性。
Often used to describe speaking or writing that exaggerates or deliberately adds details to enhance the story's interest or drama.
Examples
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他总是加油添醋地讲述他的经历,让人难以分辨真假。
tā zǒngshì jiāyóutiāncù de jiǎngshù tā de jīnglì, ràng rén nán yǐ fēnbiàn zhēnjiǎ
He always tells his experiences with exaggeration, making it hard to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
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新闻报道中,有些记者为了吸引眼球,常常加油添醋。
xīnwén bàodào zhōng, yǒuxiē jìzhě wèile xīyǐn yǎnqiú, chángcháng jiāyóutiāncù
In news reports, some reporters often exaggerate to attract attention.