Definition

1. Verb (idiomatic, colloquial):
   • To be vastly superior to; to completely outclass: Used to indicate that one person, thing, or team is much better than another, often by a large or decisive margin.
   • To defeat convincingly; to trounce: To beat an opponent thoroughly and without question.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ta ăn đứt tôi về môn cầu lông. (He completely outclasses me at badminton.)
  • Tôi bảo đảm đội này ăn đứt đội kia. (I am sure this team will trounce that one.)
  • Chiếc xe mới ăn đứt chiếc xe cũ về mọi tiêu chí. (The new car is vastly superior to the old one in every criterion.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is informal and carries a strong, emphatic tone. It is often used in competitive contexts like sports, games, comparisons of skill, or product quality.
• It implies a significant gap in ability or quality, not just a slight advantage.

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn thua (v): to compete, to contend; often used in questions or negatives to question the significance of a competition or outcome (e.g., = It's no use / It doesn't matter).
• Vượt trội (v/adj): to excel, to be superior (more formal and neutral in tone).

Synonyms

• To outclass: To be of a much higher standard than.
• To trounce: To defeat heavily.
• To surpass by far: To exceed by a large degree.
• To be head and shoulders above: To be clearly superior.

Related Idioms

• Ăn đòn: to get beaten (literally or figuratively). This is different as it focuses on receiving a loss or punishment.
• Trên cơ: to have the upper hand. This suggests an advantage but not necessarily a decisive, overwhelming superiority like .

verb

1. To prevail over, to get the better of
   • anh ta ăn đứt tôi về môn cầu lông
     he gets the better of me at badminton
   • tôi bảo đảm đội này ăn đứt đội kia
     I am sure this team prevails over that one