How to say 上蹿下跳 in English?

Question

I am learning Chinese idioms.

How to say 上蹿下跳 in English? help me

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, Mar 30, 2017 at 14:16
How about jump up and down? 上蹿下跳, (1) [jump] (2) [run around on sinister errands]. — user4072, Mar 30, 2017 at 14:17

user2805815 · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-09 09:16:41Z

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.

answered Aug 9, 2017 at 9:16

user2805815

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Elvin · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-05 04:44:34Z

0

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

answered Apr 3, 2017 at 2:51

Elvin

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Sorry to be pedantic, but I don't think demotic is the right word there: It is much less popular than these alternatives: books.google.com/ngrams/…
– Colin
May 5, 2017 at 4:34
@ColinZwanziger pardon my usage
– Elvin
May 5, 2017 at 4:38

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MemphisTony V Montana · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-05 17:08:11Z

-1

Jumping up and down should be good!

answered Jul 5, 2017 at 17:08

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