虚与委蛇

虛與委蛇
xūyǔwēiyí
to feign civility (idiom)

CEDICT

sham politeness and compliance; courtesy without sincerity; false civility

Wiktionary

心境空虚寂静，随物变化。语本《庄子．应帝王》：「乡吾示之以未始出吾宗，吾与之虚而委蛇。」后指假意慇懃，敷衍应付。《清史稿．卷四三九．廖寿恒传》：「风闻法使至天津，称越南既议款，因以分界撤兵事要约李鸿章，鸿章拒不允，拟即来都磋商译署。论者谓当虚与委蛇。」

重編國語辭典

  1. 假意慇懃，敷衍应付
  2. 心境空虚寂静，随物变化

維基詞典

Entry Composition

1 虚 xū
  1. emptiness
  2. void
  3. abstract theory or guiding principles
  4. empty or unoccupied
  5. diffident or timid
  6. false
  7. humble or modest
  8. (of health) weak
  9. virtual
  10. in vain
2 与 yǔ
  1. and
  2. to give
  3. together with
3 委蛇 wēiyí
  1. (literary, ideophonic) acceding; complying; complaisant
  2. (literary, ideophonic) calm and contented; leisurely; graceful
  3. (literary, ideophonic) winding and continuous; wriggling; zigzagging; meandering
  4. (literary, ideophonic) winding one's way through; moving in a zigzag manner
  5. acceding; complying; complaisant
  6. calm and contented; leisurely; graceful
  7. winding and continuous; wriggling; zigzagging; meandering
  8. winding one's way through; moving in a zigzag manner