醉翁之意不在酒

zuìwēngzhīyìbùzàijiǔ
  1. wine-lover's heart is not in the cup (idiom); a drinker not really interested in alcohol
  2. having an ulterior motive
  3. to have other things in mind
  4. with an ax to grind
  5. accomplishing something besides what one set out to do

CEDICT

  1. (figuratively) to have an ulterior motive
  2. (figuratively) to have other intentions
  3. to have an ulterior motive
  4. to have other intentions

Wiktionary

本指喝酒時意不在酒，而在寄情山水，舒放心胸。語出宋．歐陽修〈醉翁亭記〉：「醉翁之意不在酒，在乎山水之間也。山水之樂，得之心而寓之酒也。」後比喻別有用心。如：「他娶那個富家女，其實是醉翁之意不在酒。說穿了！為的只是那筆財產。」

重編國語辭典

Entry Composition

1 醉翁 zuìwēng
  1. wine-lover
  2. drinker
  3. toper
  4. drunkard
2 之 zhī
  1. (possessive particle, literary equivalent of 的 de)
  2. him
  3. her
  4. it
3 意 yì
  1. idea
  2. meaning
  3. thought
  4. to think
  5. wish
  6. desire
  7. intention
  8. to expect
  9. to anticipate
4 不在 bùzài
  1. not to be present
  2. to be out
  3. (euphemism) to pass away
  4. to be deceased
5 酒 jiǔ
  1. wine (esp. rice wine)
  2. liquor
  3. spirits
  4. alcoholic beverage

classifiers: 杯, 瓶, 罐, 桶, 缸