Definition

1. Verb:
   • To remain silent, to be silenced: To stop speaking, often because one has no more arguments, is overwhelmed, or is forced to be quiet.
   • To be at a loss for words: To become unable to speak or respond, typically due to embarrassment, shame, or being proven wrong.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy đuối lý nên phải ắng họng. (He ran out of arguments, so he had to remain silent.)
  • Bị phản bác gay gắt, đối thủ ắng họng không nói được câu nào. (Being sharply refuted, the opponent was silenced and couldn't say a word.)
  • Nghe xong lời phán quyết, cả phòng xử án ắng họng. (After hearing the verdict, the entire courtroom fell silent.)

Advanced Usage

• "Làm cho ai ắng họng": To silence someone, to make someone speechless.
  • Lập luận sắc bén của cô ấy đã làm cho cả hội trường ắng họng. (Her sharp argument silenced the entire hall.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ắng cổ (Verb): A variant with the same meaning as "ắng họng".
  • Bị bắt tại trận, tên trộm ắng cổ. (Caught red-handed, the thief was speechless.)

Synonyms

• Câm miệng (Verb): To shut up (often rude or imperative).
• Im bặt (Verb): To fall completely silent.
• Lặng thinh (Verb): To become quiet, to stop talking.

Related Idioms

• "Đến cửa mình cũng phải ắng họng": (Lit., "Even at one's own door, one must be silenced") Used to describe a situation where one is so thoroughly defeated or proven wrong that they cannot defend themselves even in their own domain.
  • Anh ta tự cho mình là giỏi, nhưng gặp chuyên gia thì đến cửa mình cũng phải ắng họng. (He considered himself skilled, but when he met an expert, he was silenced even on his own turf.)

verb

1. To remain silent, to be silenced
   • đuối lý nên phải ắng họng
     running short of argument, he had to remain silent