# 天花乱坠

tiān huā luàn zhuì

Speak with extravagant and often empty embellishment

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Heavenly flowers fall in profusion

**Traditional Chinese:** 天花亂墜

**Register:** Critical · general

[People & connection](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/relationships)

## When to use it

Criticize dazzling claims lacking substance.

Not every vivid or enthusiastic description is misleading.

## Understanding the expression

A shower of heavenly flowers creates a dazzling spectacle that can distract from what lies underneath. Modern use often describes sales pitches, boasts, or promises decorated beyond what the facts justify. The speaker makes things sound wonderful, but listeners may find little substance. It usually carries skepticism. Clear evidence and realistic limits help distinguish enthusiastic explanation from language designed mainly to overwhelm the audience's judgment through attractive excess.

## Examples

销售员说得天花乱坠。

### Traditional Chinese

銷售員說得天花亂墜。

xiāo shòu yuán shuō dé tiān huā luàn zhuì 。

The salesperson makes extravagant claims.

广告吹得天花乱坠，实物却普通。

### Traditional Chinese

廣告吹得天花亂墜，實物卻普通。

guǎng gào chuī dé tiān huā luàn zhuì ， shí wù què pǔ tōng 。

The advertisement is dazzling, but the product is ordinary.

别说得天花乱坠，拿出数据。

### Traditional Chinese

別說得天花亂墜，拿出數據。

bié shuō dé tiān huā luàn zhuì ， ná chū shù jù 。

Stop making extravagant claims and show the data.

他把计划讲得天花乱坠。

### Traditional Chinese

他把計劃講得天花亂墜。

tā bǎ jì huà jiǎng dé tiān huā luàn zhuì 。

He describes the plan with excessive embellishment.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%A4%A9%E8%8A%B1%E4%BA%82%E5%A2%9C)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=229&webMd=1&la=0)

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