【Catch Phrase】节后缩水(jiéhòu suōshuǐ)

Meaning:

“节” means “festival,” “后” means “after,” and “缩水” means “shrinking after being washed in water.” This term, coined by Chinese netizens, is a euphemistic saying for putting on weight after a holiday. Instead of acknowledging that they have put on weight, some people say they cannot squeeze into their shirts and pants because the garments have shrunk after being washed.

Example:

A: 过年你回家了吗？

Guònián nǐ huíjiā le ma?

Did you go back to your hometown during the Spring Festival holdiay?

B: 可不是吗，之前买的衣服都节后缩水了。

Kě bù shì ma, zhīqián mǎi de yīfú dōu jiéhòu suōshuǐ le。

Sure I did. My old pants have shrunk after the holiday. (I have put on some weight.)

(Edited by Stephanie Yang)