指桑骂槐

指桑骂槐 [zhǐ sāng mà huái]

1. ■ scold the locust while pointing at the mulberry; abuse a person by ostensibly pointing to someone else; abuse one over the shoulder of another; a veiled abuse; curse one thing while pointing to another; make oblique accusations [remarks]; mock the locust on behalf of the mulberry tree; point at the mulberry and abuse the locust -- to point at one but abuse another; revile the locust tree while pointing to the mulberry; strike at one by reviling others