Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fire-bellied toad: A type of small, brightly colored amphibian, often with a red or orange underside, belonging to the genus Bombina.
   • A person who is overboldly intrepid or recklessly daring: Used metaphorically to describe someone who acts with excessive boldness or audacity.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal):
  • Tôi thấy một con cóc tía trong đầm lầy. (I saw a fire-bellied toad in the swamp.)
  • Cóc tía là một loài lưỡng cư nhỏ có bụng màu đỏ. (The fire-bellied toad is a small amphibian with a red belly.)
• Noun (Metaphorical for a person):
  • Đừng có mà làm cóc tía, việc đó nguy hiểm lắm. (Don't be so recklessly daring; that task is very dangerous.)
  • Anh ta nổi tiếng là tay cóc tía trong làng. (He is famous for being the overboldly intrepid fellow in the village.)

Advanced Usage

• "Gan cóc tía": This is a fixed phrase meaning "having the gall/liver of a fire-bellied toad," used to describe someone with extreme and often foolish audacity.
  • Hắn có gan cóc tía, dám thách thức cả sếp. (He has the gall of a fire-bellied toad, daring to challenge even the boss.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cóc (n): Toad; a more general term for toads.
• Gan (n): Liver; figuratively means courage, boldness. When combined as "gan cóc tía," it intensifies the meaning to "reckless boldness."

Synonyms

• Liều lĩnh (adj): Reckless, rash.
• Táo bạo (adj): Bold, daring (can be positive or negative depending on context).
• Ếch (n): Frog (a different but related amphibian).

Related Phrases

• Gan lì: Stubbornly bold, having a thick skin.
  • Nó gan lì lắm, mắng mấy cũng không sợ. (He's stubbornly bold; scolding him doesn't make him afraid.)
• Mặt dày: Thick-skinned, brazen.
  • Cậu ấy mặt dày thật, bị từ chối rồi vẫn đến. (He's really brazen; he still came even after being rejected.)

Related Idioms

• "Cóc tía gan": An alternative phrasing emphasizing the "gall" or audacity. It means the same as "gan cóc tía."
  • Lại còn cóc tía gan cãi lại nữa! (And he still had the audacity to talk back!)

1. Fire-bellied toad
   • gan cóc tía
     overboldly intrepid