bật ngửa
Definition
- Verb:
- To fall or be thrown backward suddenly and forcefully, ending up lying on one's back: Describes an uncontrolled, often violent, backward motion resulting in landing supine.
- To be utterly surprised or shocked, causing a metaphorical "falling backward": Used figuratively to express being completely astonished or caught off guard.
Usage Examples
- Verb (Literal):
- Anh ấy bị đẩy mạnh và ngã bật ngửa ra sàn. (He was pushed hard and fell flat on his back onto the floor.)
- Quả bóng đập vào tường, bật ngửa trở lại. (The ball hit the wall and bounced back forcefully.)
- Verb (Figurative):
- Tin tức đó làm tôi bật ngửa vì ngạc nhiên. (That news made me fall over backwards in surprise.)
- Kết quả kiểm tra khiến cả lớp bật ngửa. (The test results made the whole class fall back in shock.)
Advanced Usage
- "làm bật ngửa": to cause someone/something to fall or be thrown backward.
- Cú đấm mạnh làm đối thủ bật ngửa. (The powerful punch sent the opponent sprawling backward.)
- Used to emphasize the suddenness, force, and complete nature of the backward motion or surprise.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngã bật ngửa (verb phrase): to fall flat on one's back.
- Bật (verb): to spring, bounce, or pop (e.g., - lighter, - to play music). Bật ngửa combines this with ngửa (lying face/side up).
- Ngửa (adjective/adverb): supine, lying on the back; facing upward.
- Ngã ngửa (verb): to fall backward (can be less forceful than ).
Synonyms
- Ngã ngửa: to fall backward.
- Đổ ngửa: to tip/topple over backward.
- Văng ngửa (colloquial): to be flung/sent flying backward.
Related Idioms
- Bật ngửa vì sốc / ngạc nhiên: To be flabbergasted; to be shocked speechless (figurative).
- Nghe giá căn hộ, tôi suýt bật ngửa. (Hearing the apartment's price, I almost fell over backwards.)