Definition

1. Verb:
   • To squeeze / To milk dry: To systematically and often unscrupulously extract money, resources, or benefits from someone or something, typically over a period of time until little or nothing remains. It implies a draining or exploitative action.
   • To embezzle / To siphon off: To gradually and secretly take funds or assets, especially from an organization or system one is entrusted with, for personal gain.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn ta bòn rút tiền bạc của công ty trong nhiều năm. (He siphoned off the company's money for many years.)
  • Bọn cho vay nặng lãi bòn rút đến đồng xu cuối cùng của người nghèo. (The loan sharks squeezed the poor of their last coin.)
  • Chế độ cũ bòn rút tài nguyên của đất nước. (The old regime milked the country's resources dry.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "bòn rút" often carries a strong negative connotation of greed, exploitation, and secrecy. It is frequently used in contexts of corruption, financial abuse, or severe exploitation where the victim is left depleted.

Variants and Related Words

• Bòn mót (v): To glean; to collect or gather bit by bit what is left over, often with a sense of frugality or necessity, lacking the strongly exploitative connotation of "bòn rút."
  • Bà cụ bòn mót từng hạt thóc rơi trên sân. (The old lady gleaned every grain of rice dropped in the yard.)

Synonyms

• Exploit: To make use of selfishly or unethically.
• Drain: To deplete resources completely.
• Embezzle: To steal funds entrusted to one's care.
• Fleece: To swindle or overcharge, stripping someone of money.

Related Idioms

• Bòn rút của công: To embezzle public assets or funds.
  • Viên chức đó bị kết tội bòn rút của công. (That official was convicted of embezzling public funds.)
• Bòn rút sức lực: To drain someone's energy or vitality (used metaphorically).
  • Công việc căng thẳng này đang bòn rút sức lực của tôi. (This stressful job is draining my energy.)

verb

1. To squeeze