露出馬腳 [－－马脚]

Jyutping lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3
Pinyin lù chū mǎ jiǎo

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. to reveal the cloven foot (idiom); to unmask one's true nature
  2. to give the game away
Definitions (粵典–words.hk)
  1. 動詞
    （​計劃​）​露出​破綻​、​缺點​，​（​秘密​，​真相​）​俾人識​穿
    to show the cloven hoof; to reveal an evil purpose; (a plan or a weakness) to be unveiled and exposed, (a secret) to be penetrated; literally "to reveal a horse's leg"
    • 佢做咁多衰嘢，終有一日會露出馬腳。
      佢做咁多衰嘢，终有一日会露出马脚。
      keoi5 zou6 gam3 do1 seoi1 je5, zung1 jau5 jat1 jat6 wui5 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3
      Having done so much evil, he must show the cloven hoof one day.
    • 佢想扮日本人，但係一出聲講嘢就露出馬腳嘞。
      佢想扮日本人，但系一出声讲嘢就露出马脚嘞。
      keoi5 soeng2 baan6 jat6 bun2 jan4, daan6 hai6 jat1 ceot1 seng1 gong2 je5 zau6 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3 laak3.
      She wanted to act like a Japanese but she exposed her trick when she spoke.
Examples (Tatoeba—Mandarin-English)
  1. Mandarin
    他终于露出马脚了。
    他終於露出馬腳了。
    tā zhōng yú lù chū mǎ jiǎo le 。
    • He has finally shown his true colors.
Examples (粵典–words.hk)
  1. Cantonese
    佢做咁多衰嘢，终有一日会露出马脚。
    佢做咁多衰嘢，終有一日會露出馬腳。
    keoi5 zou6 gam3 do1 seoi1 je5, zung1 jau5 jat1 jat6 wui5 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3
    • Having done so much evil, he must show the cloven hoof one day.
  2. Cantonese
    佢想扮日本人，但系一出声讲嘢就露出马脚嘞。
    佢想扮日本人，但係一出聲講嘢就露出馬腳嘞。
    keoi5 soeng2 baan6 jat6 bun2 jan4, daan6 hai6 jat1 ceot1 seng1 gong2 je5 zau6 lou6 ceot1 maa5 goek3 laak3.
    • She wanted to act like a Japanese but she exposed her trick when she spoke.