Pinyin:
héng tiāo bízi shù tiāo yǎn
Meaning:
比喻百般挑剔。
pick faults with somebody or something in various ways; pick faults right and left
Character breakdown and explanation:
横：horizontal
挑：nitpick
鼻子：nose
竖：vertical
眼：eye
“横挑鼻子竖挑眼” means to look for flaws or to nitpick. The words “横” and “竖” represent different ways and the words “鼻子” and “眼” are used to substitute the different elements on something or somebody that are being nitpicked. The entire structure means to use various methods to nitpick at every detail.
Example sentences:
她生了女儿之后，婆婆就横挑鼻子竖挑眼，没给过她好脸。
Tā shēng le nǚ'ér zhīhòu, pópo jiù héng tiāo bízi shù tiāo yǎn, méi gěi guò tā hǎoliǎn.
After she gave birth to a baby girl, her mother-in-law picked faults right and left and always gave her a hard time.
上司对他横挑鼻子竖挑眼，他也不在乎，还是踏实地做着自己的事情。
Shàngsī duì tā héng tiāo bízi shù tiāo yǎn, tā yě bú zàihu, háishi tāshi de zuò zhe zìjǐ de shìqing.
Even though his boss is nitpicky, he did not care and continues to be a steady worker.
