Definition

1. Verb (colloquial):
   • To eye covetously / to look at with greedy or envious interest: To watch or observe something belonging to another person with a strong desire to possess it oneself.
   • To eye inquisitively / to peer at with prying curiosity: To look at something with excessive and often intrusive curiosity.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Dòm dỏ nhà người ta làm gì? (Why are you eyeing their house like that?)
  • Cậu đừng có dòm dỏ đồ chơi của em. (Don't you covet your sibling's toy.)
  • Anh ta luôn dòm dỏ tài sản của hàng xóm. (He always eyes the neighbor's property with envy.)

Advanced Usage

• The term often implies a negative judgment on the part of the speaker, suggesting the look is inappropriate, envious, or scheming.
• It is frequently used in warnings or reprimands to tell someone to stop looking at something that is not theirs.

Variants and Related Words

• Dòm (v): to peek, to glance. A simpler, less loaded verb for looking.
  • Nó dòm qua cửa sổ. (He peeked through the window.)
• Dò xét (v): to scrutinize, to investigate carefully.
  • Cảnh sát đang dò xét manh mối. (The police are scrutinizing the clues.)

Synonyms

• Covet: to desire wrongfully what belongs to another.
• Eye greedily: to look at with strong desire.
• Peer at: to look closely or curiously.

Related Idioms

• Dòm ngó: a near-synonymous colloquial phrase meaning to look around curiously or suspiciously.
  • Có người lạ đang dòm ngó quanh nhà. (A stranger is snooping around the house.)

1. (khẩu ngữ) Keep an inquisitive (covetous) eye on
   • Dòm dỏ nhà người ta làm gì?
     Why keep a covetous eye on that house of theirs?
   • Những cặp mắt dòm dỏ
     Inquisitive eyes