Definition

1. Verb:
   • To come to light, to be revealed, to be exposed: "bại lộ" describes the state where something that was hidden, secret, or confidential becomes completely known or discovered, often unintentionally or unfortunately.
   • To be out (in the open): It indicates that a secret can no longer be concealed.

Usage

• "Bại lộ" is used to describe the complete exposure of a secret, plan, scheme, or hidden fact. It often carries a negative connotation, implying that the revelation is unfortunate, damaging, or unwanted for the person or group trying to keep it hidden.
• It is typically used in formal or serious contexts, such as news reports, investigations, or narratives about secrets.
• Common grammatical structures:
  • Subject + bị/bị + bại lộ: (Something is exposed/revealed).
  • ...bại lộ: (Used at the end of a clause to state that something has been exposed).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Âm mưu của bọn tội phạm đã bại lộ. (The criminals' plot has been exposed.)
  • Mọi bí mật rồi cũng sẽ bại lộ. (All secrets will eventually come to light.)
  • Việc chẳng may bại lộ. (Unfortunately, the thing is out.)

Advanced Usage

• "làm bại lộ": to cause to be exposed, to reveal.
  • Một lời nói bất cẩn có thể làm bại lộ kế hoạch. (A careless word could reveal the plan.)
• Often used in the passive voice with "bị" to emphasize the negative or unfortunate aspect of the exposure.
  • Kế hoạch tấn công bị bại lộ trước giờ G. (The attack plan was exposed before zero hour.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lộ (verb): to be revealed, to show. (A more general and less severe term than "bại lộ").
  • Bí mật đã lộ. (The secret is out.)
• Tiết lộ (verb): to disclose, to reveal. (Often implies a deliberate act of revealing).
  • Phóng viên tiết lộ thông tin mới. (The reporter disclosed new information.)
• Phơi bày (verb): to lay bare, to expose. (Emphasizes making something fully visible, often negative aspects).
  • Sự thật phũ phàng được phơi bày. (The harsh truth was laid bare.)

Synonyms

• Bị phát hiện: to be discovered.
• Bị vỡ lở: to be uncovered, to blow open (colloquial).
• Bị lộ tẩy: to be exposed, to be found out (often for a deceitful act).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Cá nằm trên thớt": Literally "fish on the chopping block". This idiom describes a situation where someone or something is completely exposed and vulnerable, similar to the consequence after a secret has "bại lộ".
  • Khi kế hoạch bại lộ, chúng tôi như cá nằm trên thớt. (When the plan was exposed, we were like fish on a chopping block.)
• "Để lộ bí mật": to let a secret slip. (This describes the action leading to exposure, while "bại lộ" describes the final state of being exposed).

verb

1. To come to light, to be revealed, to be out
   • việc chẳng may bại lộ
     unfortunately, the thing is out