cửa miệng
Definition
- Noun:
- A habitual saying; a stock phrase; a pet phrase: A word or expression that someone uses very frequently and characteristically, often without much thought. It refers to a verbal habit or a favorite expression that becomes a person's trademark in speech.
- Common parlance; a common expression: A phrase or term that is widely and routinely used by people in general conversation.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- "Cố lên" là cửa miệng của huấn luyện viên. ("Try harder" is the coach's stock phrase.)
- "Thật là tuyệt vời" đã trở thành cửa miệng của cô ấy. ("That's absolutely wonderful" has become her pet phrase.)
- Từ "awesome" là cửa miệng của giới trẻ Mỹ. (The word "awesome" is common parlance among American youth.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a neutral or slightly informal tone and is used to describe linguistic habits, whether of an individual or a group.
- It can be used in sociolinguistic contexts to discuss frequently used phrases within a specific community or during a particular time period.
Variants and Related Words
- Thành ngữ cửa miệng (n): A set "mouth idiom"; this emphasizes that the phrase is a fixed, idiomatic expression commonly on people's lips.
- "Ăn chắc mặc bền" là một thành ngữ cửa miệng. ("Eat securely, wear durably" is a common proverb.)
Synonyms
- Catchphrase: A well-known sentence or phrase, especially one associated with a particular person.
- Pet phrase: A favorite or frequently used phrase.
- Stock expression: A standard, routinely used phrase.
- Byword: A word or expression summarizing a characteristic or idea, often used commonly.
Related Idioms
- Thường hay cửa miệng: To be often on one's lips; to be a habitual thing to say.
- Lời khen "giỏi quá" thường hay cửa miệng của bố mẹ. (The praise "so good" is often on the lips of parents.)