察言觀色 [ㄔㄚˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄙㄜˋ; cha2 yan2 guan1 se4] to observe sb's words and gestures (idiom, from Analects); to examine words and moods for a clue as to sb's thoughts mind reading ◄ ►