抛头露面

Pronunciation: pāo tóu lù miàn Literal meaning: Expose head and face

Origin & Usage

Commonly used in classical Chinese literature, the idiom 抛头露面 (pāo tóu lù miàn) originally referred to women in feudal society who appeared in public against traditional norms. The phrase first appeared in the Ming dynasty novel 《封神演义》 (Fēngshén Yǎnyì), where it described the act of 'exposing one's head and face' (抛头, pāo tóu; 露面, lù miàn) in a negative context. Over time, its usage expanded to describe anyone appearing publicly, often with a negative connotation of being unseemly or improper. In modern contexts, it is used to criticize individuals who frequently expose themselves to public attention, especially in a manner deemed inappropriate or excessive.

Examples

English: "After years of working behind the scenes, she finally decided to step into the spotlight."

Chinese: 经过多年的幕后工作，她终于决定抛头露面。