Meaning:

    “雪” means “snow,” and “藏” is to “hide.” Literally meaning to “cover something up with snow,” this term simply means to cover something up or hide something. For example, in soccer or basketball, a team may intentionally put certain star players on hold (雪藏) in one game so that they retain strength for more important games closely after. The term is also often used in show biz. When a company “freezes out” (雪藏) a singer or actor, the company will stop casting him or her in movies, or releasing their albums, or arranging commercial events for them. While their contracts have not expired, the singer or actor cannot get work from another company.

    Example:

    A: 又看什么八卦新闻？

    Yòu kàn shénme bāguà xīnwén?

    What gossip are you reading?

    B: 谢安琪加盟星焕国际后出新歌了。

    Xiè’ānqí jiāméng xīnghuàn guójì hòu chū xīngē le。

    Kay Tse has released a new song after joining Stars Shine International.

    A: 去年她为什么离开环球唱片呢？

    Qùnián tā wèi shénme líkāi huánqíu chàngpiān ne?

    Why did she leave Universal Music Hong Kong last year?

    B: 好像是她的经纪人跟公司有矛盾，怕被雪藏吧。

    Hǎoxiàng shì tā de jīngjìrén gēn gōngsī yǒu máodùn, pà bèi xuěcáng ba。

    It seemed that her agent had a problem with the company and she was afraid she might be frozen out.