📖 Meaning
To feign moral uprightness in order to gain fame and reputation. It describes someone who pretends to be honest and principled for personal acclaim rather than out of genuine conviction.
📜 Origin Story
This phrase comes from 'Xu Zizhi Tongjian' (续资治通鉴), in the section on the second year of the Jianyan era (1128 AD) under Emperor Gaozong of the Song dynasty. The passage describes how, during the controversies over the New Policies, officials who voiced dissent were slandered with various labels — being called contrarian, accused of 'fishing for reputation by purchasing uprightness' (沽誉买直), charged with opposing what the ruler established, and attacked for not following orders. Memorials piled up and harsh decrees were issued, ultimately preventing good outcomes.
💡 Example Usage
他当面斥责上司，看似耿直，其实不过是沽誉买直罢了。
He publicly rebuked his superior, appearing principled, but it was really nothing more than feigning uprightness to fish for reputation.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 沽誉买直
- Pinyin: gū yù mǎi zhí
- Literal Translation: to fish for praise, to buy integrity
- Category: Morality
- Characters: 4