Definition

1. Verb:
   • To pretend to take the bait: To feign interest or engagement, often to deceive or to test a situation, similar to a fish nibbling at bait without being hooked.
   • (Of children) To eat more side dishes than rice: To eat more of the flavorful accompaniments (like meat, vegetables) and less of the staple rice during a meal.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con cá chỉ đang dỗ mồi, nó chưa cắn câu thật đâu. (The fish is just pretending to take the bait; it hasn't really bitten the hook yet.)
  • Đứa trẻ này chỉ thích dỗ mồi, toàn ăn thịt cá chứ không chịu ăn cơm. (This child only likes to eat the side dishes, eating all the meat and fish but refusing to eat rice.)

Advanced Usage

• "dỗ mồi dỗ mẩy": An intensified, colloquial form emphasizing the act of pretending or being picky with food.
  • Nó nói thế chỉ là dỗ mồi dỗ mẩy thôi, đừng tin. (He's just saying that to feign interest; don't believe him.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn dỗ mồi: A compound phrase meaning the same as "dỗ mồi". It is the full form from which "dỗ mồi" is derived.
  • Trong cuộc đàm phán, đối phương có thể chỉ đang ăn dỗ mồi. (In the negotiation, the other party might just be pretending to be interested.)

Synonyms

• Giả vờ: To pretend, to feign.
• Nếm thử: To taste, to try (a small amount).

Related Idioms

• Câu được cá to: To catch a big fish. This idiom relates to the fishing context of "dỗ mồi", implying a successful outcome after initial pretenses or efforts.
  • Phải kiên nhẫn, đừng vội khi nó mới dỗ mồi, rồi sẽ câu được cá to. (Be patient, don't rush when it's just nibbling; you'll catch a big fish later.)

1. xem ăn dỗ mo^`i