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Korean Idioms & Expressions
오리발을 내밀다
oribareul naemilda
Literal meaning
'to hold out a duck's foot' (오리발 = duck's foot + 내밀다 = hold out)
What it really means
To play innocent and brazenly deny wrongdoing — pretending to know nothing even when caught red-handed. (From the saying about offering a duck's foot when asked about chicken feet.)
Examples
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 증거가 다 있는데도 그는 끝까지 오리발을 내밀었다. jeunggeoga da inneundedo geuneun kkeutkkaji oribareul naemireotda. | Even with all the evidence laid out, he kept playing dumb to the very end. |
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