摇身一变

搖身一變
yáoshēnyībiàn
  1. to change shape in a single shake
  2. fig. to take on a new lease of life

CEDICT

  1. (usually derogatory and said of bad people) to suddenly change into a different appearance or identity; to assume a different persona or disguise
  2. to suddenly change into a different appearance or identity; to assume a different persona or disguise

Wiktionary

  1. 神怪传说中形容神仙鬼怪变形迅速，一晃身就变成别种形体。
  2. 今多形容改换面目出现，含有贬意。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 摇身 yáoshēn
  1. lit. to shake one's body
  2. refers to abrupt transformation
  3. same as 摇身一变
2 一 yī
  1. one
  2. single
  3. a (article)
  4. as soon as
  5. entire; whole; all; throughout
  6. "one" radical in Chinese characters (Kangxi radical 1)
  7. also pr. yāo for greater clarity when spelling out numbers digit by digit
3 变 biàn
  1. to change
  2. to become different
  3. to transform
  4. to vary
  5. rebellion