kao peh kao bu

• kao pei kao bu, kpkb, KPKB

From Hokkien 哭爸哭母 (khàu-pē-khàu-bú, “to complain to high heaven”, literally “to quarrel with one’s parents; to weep for one’s father and mother”).

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): [ˈkʰaʊ˦˨ ˌp˭eː˨ ˈkʰaʊ˦˨ ˌbuː˦˨]

kao peh kao bu (invariable)

1. (Singapore, Malaysia, informal, Singlish, idiomatic, intransitive) To make a fuss, to complain or whine excessively, to complain to high heaven.
   • 2011, truth, soc.culture.singapore‎^[1] (Usenet):

     Singaporeans genuine complains were brush aside as irrelevant KPKB.

   • 2012, Alfian Sa'at, “All You Young People Will Take Over: Branson, Chinese, taxi driver, 40’s”, in Cooling Off Day, Singapore: Ethos Books:

     Opposition sure bring up the matter
     In Parliament. They will kao peh kao bu
     Ask why government agency
     Not doing their work properly
     Make the minister malu.

• kaopeh