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拍 pai 马 ma 屁 pi Pat the back of the horse.

A certain horse rider was able to gain favor with an Emperor in old China because the rider claimed and demonstrated that he could handle a horse not by whipping them but by patting them on the back.

The Emperor became impressed and accepted the man into his court.

The man continued to flatter, thus gain favor, with the Emperor until the term pat the back of the horse came to mean to flatter someone.

Is there someone in your work place who is alwas smoozing the boss, flattering his/her supervisor?

You know now what do say about them. 

What's this all about - Learn Chinese with Me

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