Legend has it that there was once a water monster called Yu (yù 蜮). It had norns, a shell, wings and three legs, but no eyes. There was a catapult in its mouth. If Yu heard the steps of a man, it would shoot sand from its mouth at him. If even the mans’s shadow was hit, the man would fall ill.
This idiom indicates vilifying people by insinuation.
传说江淮间出产一种很特别的甲虫,名叫蜮,又有人称做射工、射影、短狐、水狐。这种虫常常伤害人,形状很是奇怪,背上长着硬壳,头上有角,身上长有翅膀,可以飞到上空,在人的头上施行袭击。它没有眼睛,但耳朵听觉特别灵敏,口中有一横物,形状像弩,只要听到人声便知道人的所在方向和距离,然后用口中所含的沙当作矢,向人射击。被蜮射中的人,会染上一种毒质而生疮;就算人的身体能够射避,而影子被蜮射中,也会生病。
含沙射影 (hán shā shè yǐng)
【翻 译】to make oblique charges.
【释 义】比喻暗中诽谤与中伤,暗中攻击或陷害人。应用这成语时应注意:只能够用来比喻攻人
无备,暗箭伤人和盲目攻击等情形。假如争斗的双方是明枪明刀的对抗,就不适宜引用
这个成语了
【例 句】没想到他表面这样恭恭敬敬,背地里却“含沙射影”,这种人实在可怕。
【近义词】含血喷人、指桑骂槐、恶语中伤
【反义词】光明正大、直截了当