Definition

1. Verb:
   • To push and pull; to move back and forth: Describes a gentle, swaying, or rocking motion, often repetitive.
   • To be indecisive, to vacillate; to be ambiguous: Describes hesitant or evasive behavior, avoiding a clear stance or decision.
   • To flirt; to engage in playful, suggestive banter: Describes subtle, teasing interaction, often with romantic or sexual undertones.

Usage Examples

• Verb (Physical Motion):

  • Chiếc thuyền nhẹ nhàng đẩy đưa trên sóng. (The boat gently rocked on the waves.)
  • Cô ấy đẩy đưa chiếc võng. (She gently pushed the hammock back and forth.)

• Verb (Indecisive Behavior):

  • Anh ta cứ đẩy đưa mãi, không chịu đưa ra câu trả lời dứt khoát. (He kept vacillating, refusing to give a definitive answer.)
  • Đừng có đẩy đưa, hãy nói thẳng anh nghĩ gì đi. (Don't be evasive, just say directly what you think.)

• Verb (Flirtatious Interaction):

  • Họ chỉ mới quen nhau nhưng đã bắt đầu đẩy đưa. (They just met but have already started flirting.)
  • Câu chuyện đẩy đưa của họ khiến mọi người xung quanh cười. (Their flirtatious banter made everyone around laugh.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe the nature of an action or speech: Often implies a lack of seriousness, directness, or commitment.
  • Lời nói đẩy đưa (Evasive/Flirtatious words)
  • Cử chỉ đẩy đưa (Suggestive gestures)

Variants and Related Words

• Đưa đẩy: A variant form with essentially the same meanings (to push and pull; to be ambiguous; to flirt).
  • Câu chuyện đưa đẩy (A flirtatious/evasive conversation)

Synonyms

• Lưỡng lự (v): To hesitate, to be indecisive. (Focuses on indecision).
• Nói quanh (v): To beat around the bush. (Focuses on evasive speech).
• Tán tỉnh (v): To flirt, to court. (More direct term for romantic flirtation).
• Đong đưa (v): To swing, to sway. (Focuses on physical swinging motion).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• N/A: As a compound verb itself, "đẩy đưa" does not typically form further phrasal verbs.

Related Idioms

• Đẩy đưa qua lại: To go back and forth (both literally and figuratively in argument or flirtation).
  • Hai bên đẩy đưa qua lại mãi không đi đến thống nhất. (The two sides went back and forth endlessly without reaching an agreement.)

1. None