演苦肉计

Traditional (Taiwan): 演苦肉計

yǎnkǔròujì ㄧㄢˇ ㄎㄨˇ ㄖㄡˋ ㄐㄧˋ

    • to harm oneself or one's own side as a show to win trust or gain an end

Character by character

Saying俗语俗語

Idiom惯用语 · Widely known

Literally
perform the self-injury ruse
Meaning
To harm oneself or one's own side as a show, so as to win trust or gain a particular end. Critical or mocking.

Sources