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虚张声势

xū zhāng shēng shì

4-character word Traditional 虛張聲勢

What 虚张声势 means

1. idiomto bluff; to bluster; to make an empty show of strength

The characters in 虚张声势

• 虚xūemptiness; void; abstract theory or guiding principles
• 张zhāngto open up; to spread; sheet of paper
• 声shēngsound; voice; tone
• 势shìpower; influence; potential

Example sentences

• 花子虚张声势。
  Huāzi xūzhāngshēngshì.
  Hanako called his bluff.
• 汤姆在虚张声势。
  Tom's bluffing.
• 人生如梦，如影随形，像个蹩脚的演员，在舞台上虚张声势、矫揉造作一小时，然后便销声匿迹。人生如白痴讲的故事，喧嚣吵杂，却毫无意义。
  Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.