Definition

1. Verb Phrase:
   • To anaesthetize / To anesthetize: To administer a substance (an anaesthetic) to a person or animal in order to induce unconsciousness or insensibility to pain, typically for a medical or surgical procedure. This is the direct and most common medical meaning.
   • To drug / To knock out: To surreptitiously or forcibly administer a substance (like a sedative or narcotic) to someone to make them unconscious, often with criminal intent such as robbery or kidnapping.

Usage Examples

• Verb Phrase:
  • Bác sĩ sẽ đánh thuốc mê bệnh nhân trước khi phẫu thuật. (The doctor will anaesthetize the patient before surgery.)
  • Tên cướp đánh thuốc mê nạn nhân để lấy tài sản. (The robber drugged the victim to steal their property.)
  • Con hổ được đánh thuốc mê để di chuyển đến khu bảo tồn. (The tiger was anaesthetized for transport to the sanctuary.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically in informal contexts to describe something so boring or monotonous that it feels like it induces sleep.
  • Bài giảng dài đó đánh thuốc mê cả lớp. (That long lecture put the whole class to sleep.)

Variants and Related Words

• Gây mê (v): This is the standard, formal medical term for "to anaesthetize." It is neutral and used almost exclusively in clinical contexts.

  • Bác sĩ gây mê đang chuẩn bị cho ca mổ. (The anaesthetist is preparing for the operation.)

• Cho thuốc mê (v phr): A more descriptive phrase meaning "to give anaesthetic/sedative."

  • Họ cho thuốc mê con vật để khám bệnh. (They gave the animal a sedative for examination.)

Synonyms

• Anaesthetize / Anesthetize: To induce anaesthesia medically.
• Drug: To administer a drug, especially surreptitiously.
• Sedate: To administer a sedative to calm or induce sleepiness (may imply a lighter effect than complete unconsciousness).
• Knock out (informal): To render unconscious.

Related Idioms

• While "đánh thuốc mê" itself is a phrase, it is conceptually related to the idiom:
  • Bỏ thuốc mê: Literally "to put in anaesthetic," used similarly to mean to drug someone's food or drink.

    • Kẻ gian đã bỏ thuốc mê vào cốc nước của ông ta. (The villain put a drug in his glass of water.)

1. Anaesthetize