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.)