打蒼蠅

Simplified: 打苍蝇

dǎcāngying ㄉㄚˇ ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ

    • to go after only petty wrongdoers while sparing the big ones
    • to target low-ranking corrupt officials

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · Widely known

Literally
to swat flies
Meaning
To go after only petty wrongdoers while sparing the big ones, for show. Critical; the phrase 'swatting flies' is also used in anti-corruption talk for small officials.

Sources