Definition

1. Idiom:
   • At full speed; as fast as one's legs can carry one: This idiom describes the action of running or moving with maximum urgency and haste, using all one's strength and speed.

Usage

• This idiom is used to emphasize extreme haste or speed in movement, often in a humorous or exaggerated way. It is typically used to describe a person running or hurrying somewhere.
• It functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb of motion (e.g., chạy - to run, đi - to go, lao - to dash).

Usage Examples

• As an adverbial phrase:
  • Nghe tin cháy nhà, anh ấy ba chân bốn cẳng chạy về. (Hearing the news of the house fire, he ran home as fast as his legs could carry him.)
  • Sợ trễ học, nó ba chân bốn cẳng lao đến trường. (Afraid of being late for school, he dashed to school at full speed.)
  • Thấy mưa, mọi người ba chân bốn cẳng tìm chỗ trú. (Seeing the rain, everyone hurriedly looked for shelter with great haste.)

Advanced Usage

• The idiom humorously exaggerates by suggesting a person has "three legs and four shins" to run faster. It often implies a comical or panicked image of someone running.
• It can be used in both spoken and written narratives to add vividness and color to the description of speed.

Variants and Related Words

• Hết tốc lực: At full throttle, at top speed. (A more standard phrase with a similar meaning of maximum speed.)
• Chạy như bay: To run as if flying. (Another idiomatic expression for running very fast.)
• Vội vàng: In a hurry, hastily. (A common adjective/adverb for haste, but without the exaggerated imagery.)

Synonyms

• Nhanh như cắt: Quick as lightning.
• Chạy hết hơi: To run until out of breath.
• Chạy thục mạng: To run for dear life; to run desperately.

Related Idioms

• Chân ướt chân ráo: (Literally: one foot wet, one foot dry). Meaning: to have just arrived; to be newly arrived. (This idiom is about arrival, not speed, but shares the structural use of "chân" - legs/feet.)
• Đầu tắt mặt tối: (Literally: head extinguished, face dark). Meaning: to be extremely busy from morning till night. (This idiom describes being busy, not fast movement.)

1. At full spead; as fast as one's legs could carry one