bật đèn

Trời tối rồi, con bật đèn lên đi.

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To turn on a light: To activate a light source, such as a lamp, ceiling light, or other electric light, causing it to emit light.
   • To give the green light (figurative): To grant permission or approval for something to proceed.

Usage Examples

• Literal meaning (to turn on a light):
  • Trời tối rồi, con bật đèn lên đi. (It's dark now, turn on the light.)
  • Tôi quên bật đèn phòng khách. (I forgot to turn on the living room light.)
• Figurative meaning (to give the green light):
  • Giám đốc đã bật đèn xanh cho dự án mới. (The director has given the green light to the new project.)

Advanced Usage

• "bật đèn xanh": Literally "to turn on the green light." This is a fixed figurative phrase meaning to approve, authorize, or give permission for an action or plan to go ahead. It originates from traffic signals.
  • Sau nhiều tháng thảo luận, hội đồng cuối cùng đã bật đèn xanh. (After many months of discussion, the council finally gave the green light.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bật (verb): To turn on, switch on, or ignite (for devices, machines, or fires). The core action in the phrase.
• Tắt đèn (verb phrase): The direct opposite, meaning "to turn off a light."
• Đèn (noun): Light, lamp, lantern. Can refer to any artificial light source.

Synonyms

• Bật lên (verb): To turn on, switch on. A more general synonym.
• Cho phép, chấp thuận (verbs): To permit, to approve. Synonyms for the figurative meaning "bật đèn xanh."

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Bật/tắt (verb pair): The common pair for "turn on/turn off" or "switch on/switch off" applied to electrical devices.
  • Anh ấy bật tivi và tắt đèn. (He turned on the TV and turned off the light.)

Related Idioms

• Bật đèn đỏ (idiom): Literally "to turn on the red light." Figuratively, it can mean to stop, prohibit, or signal a warning against proceeding, though it is less commonly used as a fixed idiom than "bật đèn xanh."
  • Báo cáo tài chính yếu kém đã bật đèn đỏ cho thương vụ. (The weak financial report raised a red flag [lit. turned on the red light] for the deal.)