Definition
舞文弄墨 is a four-character chengyu that literally means 'dance pen, toy with ink'. It has two figurative senses: (1) to pervert the law by manipulating legal language, and (2) to show off one's writing skill in a pretentious or frivolous manner. Use it critically of someone who uses clever words instead of substance.
f.e.
to pervert the law by playing with wordsto use legal chicaneryto show off one's literary skillto engage in word-mongering for effect
Examples
- 舞文弄墨，。Tā kào wǔ wén lòng, táo guò le fǎlǜ de chéngfá.He relied on legal chicanery to escape punishment.
- ，舞文弄墨。Zhè piān wénzhāng méiyǒu rènhé shízhì nèiróng, zhǐshì zài wǔ wén lòng.This article has no substance; it's just word-mongering.
- 舞文弄墨，。Tā xǐhuan wǔ wén lòng, dàn xiě chūlái de dōngxi méi shénme shēndù.He likes to show off his writing, but what he writes has no depth.
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