下馬威 [－马－]

Jyutping haa6 maa5 wai1
Pinyin xià mǎ wēi

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. display of severity immediately on taking office
  2. (fig.) initial show of strength
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 名詞
    上級​啱​啱​到任​嗰​時​，​向下​屬展​現​嘅​嚴​厲​態​度​，​用​嚟​顯示​自己​嘅​威​勢
    severity shown immediately on assuming office so as to establish one's authority or superiority
    • 新老細第一日返工就已經俾啲下馬威我哋睇。
      新老细第一日返工就已经俾啲下马威我哋睇。
      san1 lou5 sai3 dai6 jat1 jat6 faan1 gung1 zau6 ji5 ging1 bei2 di1 haa6 maa5 wai1 ngo5 dei6 tai2.
      The new boss has shown us severity on his first day of work.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. noun, figuratively
    initial show of strength; display of strength at the first encounter
  2. noun, figuratively, historical
    display of power immediately upon assuming office (in order to warn against insubordination)
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    新老细第一日返工就已经俾啲下马威我哋睇。
    新老細第一日返工就已經俾啲下馬威我哋睇。
    san1 lou5 sai3 dai6 jat1 jat6 faan1 gung1 zau6 ji5 ging1 bei2 di1 haa6 maa5 wai1 ngo5 dei6 tai2.
    • The new boss has shown us severity on his first day of work.