cầm lỏng
Definition
- Verb:
- To hold loosely; to have a loose grip on something: The literal meaning refers to physically holding an object without a firm grasp.
- To be certain of; to be confident in (an outcome): A figurative meaning indicating a strong belief or conviction that a particular result is assured, often implying the situation is under control.
Usage Examples
- Verb (Literal):
- Đừng cầm lỏng cái cốc, nó sẽ rơi mất. (Don't hold the cup loosely; it will fall.)
- Verb (Figurative):
- Đội chủ nhà cầm lỏng chiến thắng trước trận đấu. (The home team was certain of victory before the match.)
- Anh ấy cầm lỏng việc sẽ được thăng chức. (He was confident he would get the promotion.)
Advanced Usage
- The figurative usage is more common in modern Vietnamese. It describes a psychological state of assurance, often before an event has concluded. It can sometimes carry a slightly negative connotation of overconfidence.
- Cầm lỏng phần thắng ngay từ vòng đầu là một sai lầm. (Being certain of winning from the first round is a mistake.)
Variants and Related Words
- Nắm chắc: A near-synonym meaning "to hold firmly" or "to be sure/certain of." It often implies more active control or firmer evidence than .
- Cô ấy nắm chắc kiến thức. (She has a firm grasp of the knowledge.)
- Chắc chắn: An adjective meaning "sure" or "certain."
- Tôi chắc chắn về điều đó. (I am sure about that.)
Synonyms
- Tin chắc: To firmly believe.
- Đoan chắc: To be positively certain (more literary).
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Cầm chắc: Similar to , meaning to hold firmly or to be assured of. It contrasts with by emphasizing firmness.
- Họ cầm chắc tấm vé vào chung kết. (They were assured of a ticket to the final.)
Related Idioms
- Cầm lòng không đậu: An idiom meaning "cannot restrain one's emotions," which is semantically different but shares the root verb (to hold).
- Nắm chắc phần thắng trong tay: An idiom meaning "to have victory firmly in hand," closely related to the figurative sense of but with a stronger sense of control ( vs. ).