指桑骂槐 point at the mulberry tree to scold the locust tree
Explanation
比喻表面上骂这个人，实际上是骂那个人。
A metaphor for scolding someone indirectly by referring to someone else.
Origin Story
贾府上下庆祝元春晋封贤德妃，唯有贾宝玉闷闷不乐，牵挂着林黛玉。黛玉归来后，王熙凤向贾琏诉苦，抱怨家中种种烦扰，众人私下议论纷纷，虽未指名道姓，却都在指桑骂槐，暗讽凤姐管理不善。这番指桑骂槐，让凤姐心里更加委屈，也让她更加深刻地体会到管家之艰难。她暗自下定决心，要更加细致地处理府中事务，力争做到公正严明，堵住悠悠众口。
The Jia family celebrates Yuanchun's promotion to noble concubine, but Jia Baoyu is in low spirits, worried about Lin Daiyu. After Daiyu's return, Wang Xifeng complains to Jia Lian about the various troubles in the house, and everyone whispers, without naming names, but they all indirectly criticize Xifeng for her poor management. These indirect criticisms hurt Xifeng even more and make her understand the difficulties of household management even more deeply. She secretly decides to handle the affairs of the house even more carefully and to strive to be just and strict, in order to silence the rumors.
Usage
用于批评或讽刺别人说话不直率，拐弯抹角。
Used to criticize or satirize others for not speaking directly, but beating around the bush.
Examples
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他虽然没有指名道姓，但那番话分明是在指桑骂槐。
ta suiran meiyou zhimingdaoxing, dan na fan hua fenming shizai zhisangmahuai.
Although he didn't name names, his words clearly hinted at someone else.
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这分明是在指桑骂槐，暗讽领导无能。
zhe fenming shizai zhisangmahuai, anfeng lingdao wuneng.
This is clearly an indirect criticism, implying the incompetence of the leader.