指东划西 zhǐ dōng huà xī point east and west

Explanation

形容说话避开主题，东拉西扯，或做事没有条理，没有计划。

To describe someone who avoids the topic, rambles on, or does things without order or plan.

Origin Story

从前，有个村长，为人糊涂，做事没有计划。有一天，他要带领村民修建水渠，却在会上指东划西，一会儿说要挖这里，一会儿说要填那里，村民们都一头雾水，工程进度缓慢，最后水渠也没修好，村民们纷纷抱怨。

cóng qián, yǒu gè cūn zhǎng, wéi rén hútu, zuò shì méiyǒu jìhuà. yǒu yī tiān, tā yào dài lǐng cūn mín xiū jiàn shuǐ qú, què zài huì shàng zhǐ dōng huà xī, yī huì'er shuō yào wā zhèlǐ, yī huì'er shuō yào tián nàlǐ, cūn mín men dōu yī tóu wù shuǐ, gōng chéng jìndù màn màn, zuìhòu shuǐ qú yě méi xiū hǎo, cūn mín men fēn fēn bàoyuàn.

Once upon a time, there was a village chief who was confused and lacked planning. One day, he wanted to lead the villagers to build an irrigation canal, but he beat around the bush at the meeting, sometimes saying to dig here, sometimes saying to fill there. The villagers were all confused, the progress of the project was slow, and finally the canal was not built, and the villagers complained.

Usage

常用作谓语、定语、状语；形容说话或做事没有重点，东拉西扯。

cháng yòng zuò wèi yǔ, dìng yǔ, zhuàng yǔ；xiāo shù huà huò zuò shì méiyǒu zhòng diǎn, dōng lā xī chě

Often used as a predicate, attributive, or adverbial modifier; to describe speech or actions without a focus.

Examples

• 他说话总是指东划西，让人摸不着头脑。

  tā shuō huà zǒng shì zhǐ dōng huà xī, ràng rén mō bu zhǎo tóu nǎo

  He always talks around the bush, making people confused.

• 会议上，他指东划西，半天也没说到重点。

  huìyì shàng, tā zhǐ dōng huà xī, bàn tiān yě méi shuō dào zhòng diǎn

  At the meeting, he beat around the bush for a long time without getting to the point.

Related Idioms

• 东拉西扯

• 支支吾吾

Opposite Idioms

• 开门见山

• 直截了当