賣關子 [卖关－]

Jyutping maai6 gwaan1 zi2
Pinyin mài guān zi

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. to keep listeners in suspense (in storytelling)
  2. to keep people on tenterhooks
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 動詞
    講故​仔​或者​宣​佈​緊要​嘢​嘅​時​候​，​去​到​重點​就​停​低​，​吊人癮
    to stop just short of the important part of an announcement, or the climax of a story, keeping listeners in suspense; to keep people guessing; to leave a cliffhanger
    • 至於神秘嘉賓係邊個，就等我賣個關子先。
      至于神秘嘉宾系边个，就等我卖个关子先。
      zi3 jyu1 san4 bei3 gaa1 ban1 hai6 bin1 go3, zau6 dang2 ngo5 maai6 go3 gwaan1 zi2 sin1.
      I will not say who the special guest is just yet—let me keep you guessing for the moment.
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. verb, idiomatic, intransitive, verb-object
    to leave the audience on a cliffhanger
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    佢讲嘢成日讲到一半就卖关子，认真到喉唔到肺。
    佢講嘢成日講到一半就賣關子，認真到喉唔到肺。
    keoi5 gong2 je5 sing4 jat6 gong2 dou3 jat1 bun3 zau6 maai6 gwaan1 zi2, jing2 zan1 dou3 hau4 m4 dou3 fai3.
    • He always keeps his audience hanging in frustration with half-stories.
  2. Cantonese
    卖关子
    賣關子
    maai6 gwaan1 zi2
    • to stop a story about a climax; to keep people in suspense