This is a Chinese idiom. Understanding a Chinese idiom requires understanding the corresponding characters and words.
Characters:
- 耍 (shuǎ): play, display
- 嘴 (zuǐ): mouth
- 皮 (pí): skin
Words:
- 嘴皮/嘴皮子 (zuǐ pí/ zuǐ pí zi): lips (of someone who indulges in an insincere and shallow talks)
- 皮子 (pí zi): skin
- 耍嘴皮 (shuǎ zuǐ): pay lip service
Now you should be able to guess the meaning of the idiom. Well, 耍嘴皮子 (shuǎ zuǐ pí zi) means:
- Just talking but doing nothing
- Mere empty talk
- Playing with one’s tongue
- To show off eloquence
The idiom has a derogatory meaning.