Definition

1. Verb:
   • To steal; to rob; to make off with: To take something that belongs to someone else quickly, secretly, and often in a cunning or brazen manner. It implies a swift, snatching action and is often used in informal or colloquial contexts.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tên trộm đã cuỗm đi chiếc ví của tôi. (The thief made off with my wallet.)
  • Con mèo cuỗm mất con cá trên bàn. (The cat snatched the fish from the table.)
  • Hắn ta cuỗm gọn số tiền rồi bỏ trốn. (He absconded with all the money.)

Advanced Usage

• "cuỗm sạch": to clean out; to take everything.
  • Bọn lừa đảo đã cuỗm sạch tài sản của ông ấy. (The scammers cleaned out all his assets.)
• "cuỗm mất": to snatch away; to steal away.
  • Ai đó đã cuỗm mất chiếc điện thoại khi tôi không để ý. (Someone snatched away the phone when I wasn't paying attention.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn cắp, ăn trộm (verb): to steal, to pilfer. These are more general, neutral terms for theft.
• Cướp (verb): to rob, to seize by force. Implies more overt violence or threat than "cuỗm".
• Xoáy (verb, slang): to swipe, to pinch. Similar informal slang for stealing.
• Vớ (verb, slang): to grab, to snag. Can imply a quick, opportunistic take, not always for theft.

Synonyms

• Steal: to take (another person's property) without permission or legal right.
• Pilfer: to steal (typically things of relatively little value).
• Swipe (informal): to steal quickly or slyly.
• Snatch: to quickly seize something in a rude or eager way.
• Make off with: to steal something and hurry away with it.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "cuỗm" is a Vietnamese verb, it does not have English phrasal verbs. The equivalents are the synonyms and phrases listed above.

Related Idioms

• "Cuỗm như chớp": to steal in a flash; to be lightning-fast at stealing.
  • Tên móc túi cuỗm như chớp, nạn nhân không kịp phản ứng. (The pickpocket stole it in a flash, the victim couldn't react in time.)
• "Ăn như rồng cuốn, nói như rồng leo, làm như mèo mửa, *cuỗm như rồng lấy"* (from a satirical folk verse): This idiom humorously criticizes someone who eats voraciously, talks big, works poorly, but steals expertly.

verb

1. to steal; to rob; to make of with