粉墨登场

粉墨登場
fěnmòdēngchǎng
to make up and go on stage (idiom); to embark on a career (esp. in politics or crime)

CEDICT

  1. (now chiefly sarcastic) to embark upon a venture (esp. criminal or political)
  2. to embark upon a venture (esp. criminal or political)
  3. to make oneself up and go onstage; to mount the stage in full make-up

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 粉墨 fěnmò
  1. (dialectal Mandarin) chalk (for writing on a blackboard)
  2. (literary) black and white; two distinct and contrasting things
  3. (literary) to differentiate between black and white; to distinguish clearly
  4. (literary) to draw a picture
  5. (literary) to whitewash; to gloss over reality
  6. (literary) white powder and black pigment used in the make-up for stage performers; (figurative) opera; drama
  7. (literary, historical) white face powder and black pigment used as women's make-up
  8. (literary, historical) white powder and black pigment used for painting; (figurative) painting; drawing
  9. black and white; two distinct and contrasting things
  10. chalk (for writing on a blackboard)
  11. to differentiate between black and white; to distinguish clearly
  12. to draw a picture
  13. to whitewash; to gloss over reality
  14. white face powder and black pigment used as women's make-up
  15. white powder and black pigment used for painting; (figurative) painting; drawing
  16. white powder and black pigment used in the make-up for stage performers; (figurative) opera; drama
2 登场 dēngchǎng
  1. to go on stage
  2. fig. to appear on the scene
  3. used in advertising to mean new product