Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Cheeky, impudent, insolent: Describes a person, attitude, or manner of speech that is rudely disrespectful, showing a lack of politeness or appropriate respect.
   • Nonsensical, frivolous: Describes talk, stories, or behavior that is silly, lacking seriousness or sense, and often considered trivial or foolish.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Thằng bé có thái độ rất bố láo với giáo viên. (The boy has a very cheeky attitude toward the teacher.)
  • Đừng nói bố láo như thế! (Don't talk in such a cheeky/nonsensical manner!)
  • Câu chuyện bố láo của nó chẳng ai tin. (No one believes his nonsensical story.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is informal and can carry a vulgar connotation, implying strong disapproval. It is often used in reprimands.
• The intensified form "bố láo bố lếu" expresses an even stronger degree of impudence or frivolousness.
  • Nó trả lời một cách bố láo bố lếu. (He answered in an extremely impudent manner.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hỗn láo (adj): insolent, impudent. This is a close synonym but may be considered slightly less vulgar than "bố láo."
  • Lời nói hỗn láo không được chấp nhận. (Insolent speech is not acceptable.)

Synonyms

• Cheeky: showing a lack of respect in a way that is amusing or irritating.
• Insolent: showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect.
• Frivolous: not having any serious purpose or value.
• Nonsensical: having no meaning; making no sense.

Related Idioms

• While "bố láo" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, it is commonly used in the phrases "thái độ bố láo" (a cheeky attitude) and "nói bố láo" (to talk cheekily/to talk nonsense), which function as standard collocations.

adj

1. Cheeky
   • thái độ bố láo
     a cheeky attitude
   • nói bố láo
     to talk in a cheeky manner
2. Nonsensical
   • câu chuyện bố láo
     a nonsensical talk