指桑骂槐

zhǐ sāng mà huái

lit. to point at the mulberry tree and curse the locust tree

fig. to scold sb indirectly; to make oblique accusations (idiom)

指

zhǐ

finger

桑

sāng

(bound form) mulberry tree

骂

mà

variant of 罵|骂[ma4]

槐

huái

Chinese scholar tree (Sophora japonica)