Chinese puzzle
A senseless situation.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“This confusing contract is a real Chinese puzzle.”
“Trying to understand the new tax laws feels like a Chinese puzzle that nobody can solve.”
“The political situation in the region remains a Chinese puzzle, defying every attempt at a logical explanation or peaceful resolution.”
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Chinese compliment
A pretense of deference; a veiled or subtle insult.
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Chinese green
Synonym of lokao.
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Chinese overtime
Any form of overtime in which increasing the hours worked reduces the hourly rate.
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Chinese Wall
An information barrier within an organization, designed to ensure internal confidentiality; frequently used to prevent conflicts of interest.
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Chinese water torture
Any repeated irritation that builds to deliver cumulative damage.
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piece of the puzzle
A clue that contributes to the solution of a mystery.
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puzzle out
To figure out; to discover or find a solution to.
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puzzle over
To think intensely and deeply about a confusing problem, situation, or question in an effort to understand it or to find a solution.
Last updated August 10, 2026