馬腳 [马脚]

Jyutping maa5 goek3
Pinyin mǎ jiǎo

Definitions (CC-CEDICT)
  1. sth one wishes to conceal
  2. the cat (as in "let the cat out of the bag")
Definitions (Wiktionary)
  1. noun, figuratively
    cloven foot; something that gives the game away; mistake or gap in a speech or theory; flaw
    (syn.) 破绽, 破綻, 龜跤, 漏洞, 龟跤
    • 他裝英國人，但他的口音讓他露了馬腳。
      他装英国人，但他的口音让他露了马脚。
      tā zhuāng yīng guó rén ， dàn tā de kǒu yīn ràng tā lòu le mǎ jiǎo ．
      He pretended to be British, but his foreign accent gave him away.
  2. noun
    horse's feet
Definitions (Kaifangcidian)
  1. （沒有對應漢語詞彙）
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.
  2. Mandarin
    马屁拍在马脚上。
    馬屁拍在馬腳上。
    mǎ pì pāi zài mǎ jiǎo shàng 。
    • He chose to kiss up to someone, but stepped on a landmine instead.
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.
Examples (Wiktionary)
  1. Mandarin
    他装英国人，但他的口音让他露了马脚。
    他裝英國人，但他的口音讓他露了馬腳。
    tā zhuāng yīng guó rén ， dàn tā de kǒu yīn ràng tā lòu le mǎ jiǎo ．
    • He pretended to be British, but his foreign accent gave him away.