Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To evade, to dodge, to sidestep: The act of intentionally avoiding answering a direct, often awkward or embarrassing question by changing the subject or talking about something irrelevant.
   • To beat around the bush: To speak vaguely or indirectly to avoid addressing a specific point or question.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Khi tôi hỏi về chuyện tiền nong, anh ấy liền đánh trống lảng sang chuyện thời tiết. (When I asked about the money, he immediately changed the subject to talk about the weather.)
  • Phóng viên hỏi rất thẳng thắn, nhưng vị chính trị gia chỉ biết đánh trống lảng. (The reporter asked very directly, but the politician only knew how to dodge the question.)
  • Đừng có đánh trống lảng nữa, hãy trả lời câu hỏi của tôi đi. (Stop beating around the bush, just answer my question.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used to describe a deliberate and obvious tactic in conversation. It implies the speaker's attempt is transparent to the listener.
• It can be used in both formal (e.g., political interviews) and informal (e.g., personal conversations) contexts to criticize evasive behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Lảng tránh (verb): To avoid, to evade. This is a more general single verb with a similar meaning.
  • Anh ta luôn lảng tránh trách nhiệm của mình. (He always evades his responsibility.)
• Nói lảng (verb): To speak evasively. A simpler phrase focusing on the speech act.
  • Cô ấy không trả lời mà chỉ nói lảng sang chuyện khác. (She didn't answer but just spoke evasively about other things.)

Synonyms

• Tránh né câu hỏi: To avoid a question.
• Nói vòng vo: To speak in a roundabout way.
• Thay đổi chủ đề một cách cố ý: To deliberately change the subject.

Related Idioms

• Đá quả bóng trách nhiệm: To pass the buck. (While not identical, it shares the theme of avoiding direct address, specifically of responsibility.)
• Nước đổ lá khoai: Like water off a duck's back. (This idiom describes advice or criticism having no effect, which is different but sometimes used in contexts where someone ignores a question entirely rather than evading it.)

1. Evade answering an embarrassing question by changing topics