借花献佛

Pronunciation: jiè huā xiàn fó Literal meaning: Borrow flower offer Buddha

Origin & Usage

The Buddhist life of the Buddha's former births has the young Sumedha, wanting to make an offering to the buddha Dipankara and owning nothing, buy flowers from a girl who gives them on condition that she share the merit. Borrowing flowers (借花) to offer to the Buddha (献佛) is therefore not condemned in its source. Today it is light and usually reflexive — offering somebody a drink at another person's party, passing on a gift — a graceful way of admitting the resources were not yours.

Examples

English: "He took credit for the team's work during the presentation"

Chinese: 他在演示中把团队的工作据为己有