cựa quậy
Definition
- Verb:
- To fidget; to squirm: To make small, restless, and often nervous movements of the body or a part of the body.
- To stir; to move slightly: To show a small sign of movement or activity, often after being still.
- To wriggle; to writhe: To twist and turn the body with quick, contorted motions.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa trẻ cựa quậy không ngừng trên ghế. (The child fidgeted incessantly on the chair.)
- Sau cơn mê, anh ấy bắt đầu cựa quậy. (After the coma, he began to stir.)
- Con giun đất cựa quậy trong lòng bàn tay. (The earthworm wriggled in the palm of the hand.)
Advanced Usage
- Used to describe slight, often involuntary movements indicating life, discomfort, or impatience.
- Không một ai cựa quậy trong phòng im lặng. (Not a single person stirred in the silent room.)
Variants and Related Words
Cựa mình (v): to stir oneself; to move one's body slightly (often when lying down).
- Cô ấy cựa mình tìm tư thế thoải mái hơn. (She stirred to find a more comfortable position.)
Ngọ nguậy (v): to wriggle; to wiggle (very similar in meaning, often interchangeable).
- Đừng ngọ nguậy khi tôi đang cắt tóc cho con. (Don't wiggle while I'm cutting your hair.)
Synonyms
- Fidget: to make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience.
- Squirm: to wriggle or twist the body from side to side, especially due to nervousness or discomfort.
- Stir: to make a slight movement.
Related Idioms
Cựa quậy như giun: to wriggle like a worm (emphasizes vigorous, helpless writhing).
- Khi bị trói, tên tù nhân cựa quậy như giun. (When tied up, the prisoner wriggled like a worm.)
Không dám cựa quậy: to not dare to move a muscle; to be frozen with fear or obedience.
- Dưới ánh mắt của thầy giáo, học sinh không dám cựa quậy. (Under the teacher's gaze, the students didn't dare to move a muscle.)