물타기

물 (mul, “water”) +‎ 타기 (tagi, “mixing”), literally "watering down" a solution, a beverage, etc.; here metaphorically, the topic of discussion or the risk of the stock. The literal meaning is usually written spaced, as 물 타기 (mul tagi).

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key):
• Phonetic hangul:

물타기 • (multagi)

1. (idiomatic) bringing up an irrelevant topic or saying nonsense in order to distract from the facts or the original topic; (sometimes) whataboutism

   이딴 시덥잖은 논리로 물타기하려 하지 마.

   ittan sideopjaneun nolli-ro multagiharyeo haji ma.

   Stop trying to change the topic with this nonsensical logic.

   • 2016, “최순실 연예인, 밝히는 게 맞나?..."물타기에 속지마라"VS"관련 라인 모조리 자르자" [choesunsil yeonyein, balkineun ge manna?...multagie sokjimara"VSgwallyeon rain mojori jareuja"]”, in mediapen.com‎:

     연예인으로 물타기하네. 이런 물타기에 속지마라

     Yeonyein-euro multagihane. ireon multagi-e sokjimara

     She's trying to change the topic this celebrity. Don't get fooled by trickery like this

   • 2019, “중국, 홍콩 사태 물타기하나…"미국 내 여성 인권 침해 심각" [jungguk, hongkong satae multagihana…miguk nae yeoseong in'gwon chimhae simgak"]”, in JTBC News‎:

     일각에서는 홍콩 내 강경 진압에 따른 서구의 인권 침해 비판이 커지자 미국의 인권 문제를 거론해 물타기 하려는 의도가 아니냐는 해석이 나오고 있다.

     Ilgag-eseo-neun Hongkong nae ganggyeong jinab-e ttareun seogu-ui in'gwon chimhae bipan-i keojija Migug-ui in'gwon munje-reul georonhae multagi haryeoneun uido-ga aninyaneun haeseog-i naogo itda.

     Some interpret this as an attempt at whataboutism by bringing up the United States' human rights issues, given increasing Western criticism over human rights violations subsequent to the heavy-handed suppression in Hong Kong.

   • 2020, “6·25 400억 추모사업, 北 민간인 학살은 다 뺐다”, in Chosun Ilbo‎:

     '6.25 내전은 북한과 수정주의 사관 추종자들이 '북한의 침략 전쟁, 남침'을 물타기하기 위해 만들어낸 용어다.

     Yugio naejeon-eun Bukhan-gwa sujeongjuui sagwan chujongjadeur-i Bukhan-ui chimnyak jeonjaeng, namchim eul multagihagi wihae mandeureonaen yong'eoda.

     The "June 25 Civil War" is a term invented by North Korea and the adherents of revisionist historiography to distract from was an offensive war by North Korea, an invasion of the South.

2. (by extension, derogatory) inciting people; attempting to sway public opinion or change the focus of public discourse through unethical means

   Synonym: 선동(煽動)

3. (stock market) scale trading

• 물타기하다 (multagihada)