📖 Meaning
This idiom describes the act of deliberately looking for weaknesses or faults in others in order to provoke trouble or start conflicts. It conveys a sense of opportunistic aggression, where one lies in wait for any sign of vulnerability to exploit. The phrase paints a picture of someone scrutinizing a surface for cracks and then deliberately probing those weak points.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no specific recorded origin story or literary source. It is a compound expression formed from the characters 伺 (to watch or lie in wait), 瑕 (a flaw or blemish), 抵 (to strike or poke at), and 隙 (a crack or gap). It shares the same meaning as the related phrase 伺瑕导蠙. The metaphor is drawn from the physical act of examining a surface for imperfections and then pressing into those weak spots, extended to describe interpersonal scheming and provocation.
💡 Example Usage
他总是伺瑕抵隙，处处与同事为难。
He is always watching for flaws and picking quarrels, making things difficult for his colleagues at every turn.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 伺瑕抵隙
- Pinyin: sì xiá dǐ xì
- Literal Translation: watch for flaws, poke at gaps
- Category: Action
- Characters: 4