<p><code>run around on sinister errands</code>, the only one right answer, can not be used in other scene. It's a term of abuse, I'm chinese, trust me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T09:16:41.483Z
2017-08-09T09:16:41.483Z
user2805815
<p><code>cavort</code> is more accurate I think. You can also use <code>coltish</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-05T04:34:59.433Z
Sorry to be pedantic, but I don't think demotic is the right word there: It is much less popular than these alternatives: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=demotic%2Cvulgar%2Cvernacular%2Ccolloquial&year_start=1900&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cdemotic%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cvulgar%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cvernacular%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ccolloquial%3B%2Cc0
Colin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-05-05T04:38:58.200Z
@ColinZwanziger pardon my usage
Elvin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-03T02:51:19.673Z
2017-05-05T04:44:34.433Z
2017-05-05T04:44:34.433Z
Elvin
<p>Jumping up and down should be good! </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-05T17:08:11.590Z
2017-07-05T17:08:11.590Z
MemphisTony V Montana
<p>I am learning Chinese idioms.</p>

<p>How to say 上蹿下跳 in English? help me</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-30T14:16:56.080Z
see online dictionaries, e.g. bkrs:(1) [jump]∶[动物]到处蹿跳, 到处蹿蹦
小松鼠上蹿下跳, 寻找食物
[jukuu:1.  For a while the ship kept bucking and sidling like a vicious horse, the sails filling, now on one tack, now on another, and the boom swinging to and fro till the mast groaned aloud under the strain.
 有那么一会儿，帆船像匹烈马那样不停地上蹿下跳，左摇右晃； 鼓起的风帆时而这边受风，时而那边受风； 帆杠来回晃动，拖得主桅不停地叫唤。]
 

(2) [run around on sinister errands]∶比喻人上下奔走, 四处活动(含贬义)
一有机会, 他就上蹿下跳, 煽风点火
user6065
<idioms>
How to say 上蹿下跳 in English?
# How to say 上蹿下跳 in English?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-30)

I am learning Chinese idioms.

How to say 上蹿下跳 in English? help me

**Tags:** idioms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: see online dictionaries, e.g. bkrs:(1) [jump]∶[动物]到处蹿跳, 到处蹿蹦 小松鼠上蹿下跳, 寻找食物 [jukuu:1.  For a while the ship kept bucking and sidling like a vicious horse, the sails filling, now on one tack, now on another, and the boom swinging to and fro till the mast groaned aloud under the strain.  有那么一会儿，帆船像匹烈马那样不停地上蹿下跳，左摇右晃； 鼓起的风帆时而这边受风，时而那边受风； 帆杠来回晃动，拖得主桅不停地叫唤。]    (2) [run around on sinister errands]∶比喻人上下奔走, 四处活动(含贬义) 一有机会, 他就上蹿下跳, 煽风点火  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-09. Score: 1

`run around on sinister errands`, the only one right answer, can not be used in other scene. It's a term of abuse, I'm chinese, trust me.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-03. Score: 0

`cavort` is more accurate I think. You can also use `coltish`

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Sorry to be pedantic, but I don't think demotic is the right word there: It is much less popular than these alternatives: https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=demotic%2Cvulgar%2Cvernacular%2Ccolloquial&year_start=1900&year_end=2000&corpus=15&smoothing=3&share=&direct_url=t1%3B%2Cdemotic%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cvulgar%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Cvernacular%3B%2Cc0%3B.t1%3B%2Ccolloquial%3B%2Cc0  
> **username_3**: @ColinZwanziger pardon my usage  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-07-05. Score: -1

Jumping up and down should be good!


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