Definition

1. Adjective (tt) / Adverb (trgt):
   • Indirect, oblique, suggestive: Refers to speech or remarks that are not direct or straightforward, but instead hint at something in a roundabout way, often with a critical, mocking, or prying intent. It implies a veiled, subtle, or sarcastic manner of speaking.

Usage Examples

• Adjective / Adverb:
  • Anh ta luôn có những lời bình luận cạnh khóe về công việc của đồng nghiệp. (He always makes oblique comments about his colleague's work.)
  • Đừng nói cạnh khóe nữa, hãy nói thẳng điều anh muốn đi. (Stop speaking indirectly, just say what you want directly.)
  • Tôi không thích kiểu nói chuyện cạnh khoé ấy. (I don't like that kind of suggestive talk.)

Advanced Usage

• "chửi cạnh khóe": to scold or abuse someone using innuendo; to make veiled insults.
  • Bà ấy không bao giờ chửi thẳng mà chỉ thích chửi cạnh khóe. (She never insults directly but prefers to abuse with innuendoes.)
• "nói cạnh nói khoé": to speak with oblique hints; to make indirect, suggestive remarks.
  • Họ ngồi đó cả buổi, nói cạnh nói khoé về chuyện gia đình nhà hàng xóm. (They sat there all afternoon, making oblique hints about the neighbor's family matters.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cạnh khoé: A common alternate spelling with the same meaning.
• Nói bóng gió: (Verb phrase) To speak figuratively or allusively; to hint. This is a close synonym but can be less negative than "cạnh khóe".
• Ám chỉ: (Verb) To imply, to insinuate. This is a more general term for indirect suggestion.

Synonyms

• Gián tiếp: Indirect.
• Bóng gió: Figurative, allusive.
• Nói mát: (Colloquial) To make a sarcastic or veiled critical remark.

Related Phrases

• Lời nói cạnh khóe: An oblique/veiled remark.
  • Cô ấy tổn thương vì những lời nói cạnh khóe của họ. (She was hurt by their veiled remarks.)
• Ý cạnh khóe: An oblique/suggestive meaning.
  • Câu nói tưởng đơn giản nhưng lại mang ý cạnh khóe. (The sentence seemed simple but carried an oblique meaning.)

Related Idioms

• Nói gần nói xa: (Idiom) To beat around the bush; to talk in a roundabout way without getting to the point. This idiom shares the concept of indirectness with "cạnh khóe" but is less focused on mockery or prying.

1. Oblique hint, innuendo
   • chửi cạnh khóe
     to abuse with innuendoes
   • nói cạnh nói khoé
     to make oblique hints
   • những lời cạnh khoé
     oblique hints, innuendoes