造谣惑众 zào yáo huò zhòng Spread rumors and confuse the public

Explanation

制造虚假的言论，用来迷惑大众，使大众对真假难辨，以达到其不可告人的目的。

To create false statements to confuse the public, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between truth and falsehood, in order to achieve their ulterior motives.

Origin Story

战国时期，燕国派苏秦游说诸侯，联合抗秦。苏秦为了达到目的，四处散布谣言，说秦国即将灭亡，并夸大其词，渲染秦国军队的残暴，试图以此迷惑各国君主，让他们相信自己的话，从而达到联合抗秦的目的。然而，一些精明的君主识破了他的谎言，并没有被他的话所迷惑。

zhanguoshiqi, yanguo paisuqin youshuo zhūhou, liánhé kàng qín. sū qín wèi le dàodá mùdì, sìchù sàn bù yáoyán, shuō qín guó jí jiāng mièwáng, bìng kuā dà qícì, xuǎnyàn qín guó jūnduì de cánbào, shìtú yǐ cǐ mihuò gè guó jūnzhǔ, ràng tāmen xiāngxìn zìjǐ de huà, cóng'ér dàodá liánhé kàng qín de mùdì. rán'ér, yīxiē jīngmíng de jūnzhǔ shípò le tā de huǎngyán, bìng méiyǒu bèi tā de huà suǒ mihuò.

During the Warring States period, the Kingdom of Yan sent Su Qin to persuade the princes to unite against Qin. To achieve his goal, Su Qin spread rumors that the Kingdom of Qin was about to perish, exaggerating and embellishing the brutality of Qin’s army, attempting to confuse the princes and make them believe his words in order to unite against Qin. However, some shrewd princes saw through his lies and were not deceived by his words.

Usage

作谓语、宾语；指散布谣言迷惑群众。

zuo weiyǔ, bǐnyǔ; zhǐ sànbù yáoyán míhuò qúnzhòng

Predicate, object; refers to spreading rumors to confuse the public.

Examples

  • 散布谣言，企图造谣惑众，最终被识破。

    sanbu yaoyan, qitu zaoyaohuozhong, zhongjiu bei shipo

    Spreading rumors and attempting to deceive the public was ultimately exposed.

  • 某些别有用心的人造谣惑众，企图煽动群众闹事。

    mouxie bieyouyongxin derenzaoyaohuozhong, qitu shandong qunzhong naoshi

    Some malicious individuals spread false rumors and attempt to incite the masses to riot.

Related Idioms

  • 谣言

  • 欺骗

  • 谎言

  • 蛊惑

Opposite Idioms

  • 说实话

  • 讲真话