挂羊头卖狗肉

Traditional (Taiwan): 掛羊頭賣狗肉

guàyángtóumàigǒuròu ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄇㄞˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄖㄡˋ

    • lit. to hang a sheep's head while selling dog meat (idiom)
    • fig. to cheat
    • dishonest advertising
    • wicked deeds carried out under banner of virtue

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · In everyday use

Literally
hang up a sheep's head, sell dog meat
Meaning
To advertise one thing but sell another; to deceive people with a fine label that does not match the reality. Critical. Close to "false pretences" or "bait and switch".

Sources