Definition

1. Verb:
   • To presume upon one's position or influence: To rely on or exploit one's own power, status, or connections to act in a presumptuous, overbearing, or unfair manner.
   • To rely on someone else's backing: To act with a sense of entitlement or impunity because one has the support or protection of a powerful person.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn ỷ thế là con quan nên hay bắt nạt bạn học. (He presumes upon his status as an official's son to bully his classmates.)
  • Đừng ỷ thế người khác mà làm điều sai trái. (Don't rely on someone else's backing to do wrong.)
  • Công ty đó ỷ thế độc quyền để tăng giá. (That company presumes upon its monopoly to raise prices.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often carries a strong negative connotation, criticizing unethical behavior enabled by power dynamics. It implies arrogance and the abuse of privilege.

Variants and Related Words

• ỷ lại (v): to be overly dependent on others; to rely on someone in a way that avoids personal responsibility.

  • Nó có tính ỷ lại, không chịu tự lập. (He has a dependent nature, refusing to be self-reliant.)

• Cậy thế (v): a near-synonym meaning to rely on one's power or influence (often used interchangeably with ỷ thế).

  • Họ cậy thế đông người nên hống hách. (They rely on their greater numbers to act arrogantly.)

Synonyms

• To presume upon: To take advantage of one's position unjustifiably.
• To exploit one's position: To use one's status for unfair gain.
• To throw one's weight around: To act arrogantly based on one's power or influence.

Related Idioms

• ỷ thế cậy quyền: This common idiom combines with (to rely on one's authority), emphasizing the abuse of both influence and official power.
  • Kẻ ỷ thế cậy quyền thường bị mọi người ghét. (Those who presume upon their influence and authority are often despised by everyone.)