上下其手Manipulate a Case by Raising and Lowering the Hand

Manipulate a Case by Raising and Lowering the Hand（成语 上下其手 英文）

The State of Chu was invading the State of Zheng. Zheng's general Huang Ji was therefore commissioned to defend the capital. When he went out to fight with the Chu troops,he suffered a great defeat and was captured by Chuan Fengxu,a magistrate of Chu. Immediately, however, Prince Wei came to claim the prisoner. The magistrate refused, while the prince stuck to his claim.So, they went to Bozhouli, Minister of Internal Affairs, for arbitration.

"The best way is to ask the prisoner himself for the facts," said the Minister.

The prisoner was brought in. Holding up his right hand, the Minister said to him,"This is Prince Wei, a favourite brother of our sovereign ruler."Then, lowering the hand, he said again,"This man is called Chuan Fengxu, a magistrate of one of our border counties. Well, tell us which of the two actually captured you."

Fully understanding the Minister's gesture, the prisoner answered,"I chanced upon Prince Wei and was defeated and taken captive."

上下其手(chinese idioms)

楚国侵犯郑国。郑将皇颉带兵守御，出城和楚军作战，大败。楚国的穿封戌活捉了皇颉，可是公子围（即楚共王之次子，楚康王之弟，亦即后来的楚灵王）向穿封戌争俘虏（他硬说皇颉是他俘获的）。两人争执不下，便到太宰伯州犁那里去评理。伯州犁说：“这最好问俘虏自己。”于是把俘虏皇颉带来。伯州犁向上高举起一只手，恭敬地指着公子围，对皇颉说：“这位是王子围，是我国国君宠爱的兄弟。”然后，把手放低，向下轻轻指着穿封戌说：“这人名叫穿封戌，是我国边远外地的一个县官。究竟是谁把你捉住的？”皇颉见伯州犁介绍时，手势语气，大不相同，心里早已明白了他暗示的意思，便趁机逢迎，撒谎道：“我皇颉遇到王子，就大败被俘。”

上下其手,比喻玩弄手法，串通做弊。