改換門庭

改换门庭
gǎihuànméntíng
  1. to improve one's family's social status by moving up in the world
  2. to switch one's allegiance to a new patron

CEDICT

改變門第出身，以提高身分地位。《三俠五義．第二回》：「倘上天憐念，得個一官半職，一來改換門庭，二來省受那贓官汙吏的悶氣。」也作「改換門閭」。

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 改換 gǎihuàn
  1. to change (sth)
  2. to alter (sth)
  3. to change over (to sth else)
2 門庭 méntíng
  1. (literary, figurative) family status; family
  2. (literary, literally) front door and front yard
  3. family status; family
  4. front door and front yard