挂羊头卖狗肉 in English gua4 yang2 tou2 mai4 gou3 rou4 Meaning

Meanings

  • literally (word for word) to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiomatic expression)
  • metaphorically to cheat
  • dishonest advertising
  • wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue

Simplified Characters

挂 羊 头 卖 狗 肉

Traditional Characters

掛 羊 頭 賣 狗 肉

Pinyin

gua4 yang2 tou2 mai4 gou3 rou4

Literal

Literal explanation, with pronunciation and meaning of each character.

挂gua4to hang or suspend (from a hook etc) 羊yang2surname Yang 头tou2head 卖mai4to sell 狗gou3dog 肉rou4meat