cười xoà
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To laugh it off; to give a conciliatory laugh: To laugh in a way that diffuses tension, smoothes over a disagreement, or dismisses an awkward situation, often to show there are no hard feelings or to avoid further conflict. It implies a forgiving or appeasing attitude.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sau cuộc tranh cãi, cả hai chỉ cười xoà và bắt tay nhau. (After the argument, they both just laughed it off and shook hands.)
- Anh ấy cười xoà khi tôi vô tình làm đổ nước. (He gave a conciliatory laugh when I accidentally spilled the water.)
- Cô ấy cười xoà trước lời chỉ trích, không muốn tranh luận thêm. (She laughed off the criticism, not wanting to argue further.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often describes a social strategy to maintain harmony. It is not a laugh of pure joy, but a deliberate, polite reaction to an uncomfortable or potentially conflictual moment.
Variants and Related Words
- Cười trừ (verb phrase): To laugh evasively; to laugh something off in a non-committal or dismissive way, often to avoid answering directly.
- Khi bị hỏi về tin đồn, anh ấy chỉ cười trừ. (When asked about the rumor, he just laughed evasively.)
Synonyms
- To laugh it off: To respond to something embarrassing or negative with laughter, pretending it is not serious.
- To give a disarming laugh: To laugh in a way that removes hostility or suspicion.
Related Idioms
- While "cười xoà" itself is a set phrase, it is closely related to the concept of using laughter as a social lubricant to "xoá bỏ" (erase or smooth over) a problem.