Definition

Verb (Colloquial): - To recoup losses; to salvage something from a bad situation: The primary meaning is to try to regain or recover something lost, especially money, time, or effort, after a failure or setback. It implies an attempt to mitigate a loss or get some small compensation. - To scrape together a gain; to eke out a small profit: In some contexts, it means to manage to get a small benefit or advantage from a deal or situation, often with difficulty.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Sau vụ đầu tư thất bại, anh ta đang cố gắng gỡ gạc bằng vài hợp đồng nhỏ. (After the failed investment, he is trying to recoup his losses with a few small contracts.)
  • Trận đấu đó thua đậm, đội chủ nhà chỉ gỡ gạc được một bàn thắng danh dự. (Losing that match heavily, the home team only managed to salvage a consolation goal.)
  • Bán mấy món đồ cũ này cũng chỉ để gỡ gạc chút tiền. (Selling these old items is just to scrape together a little money.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is inherently colloquial and often carries a tone of making the best out of a poor situation. It is frequently used in contexts of business, gambling, sports, or personal efforts where something has been lost.

Variants and Related Words

• Gỡ (v): A more neutral and broader verb meaning . "Gỡ gạc" is an emphatic, colloquial extension of the fourth and fifth meanings of "gỡ," which relate to recovering from a loss or correcting a mistake.

Synonyms

• Recoup: To regain something lost.
• Salvage: To rescue or save something from a failure.
• Recover: To get back something lost.
• Eke out: To obtain something with difficulty.

Related Idioms

• While "gỡ gạc" itself is idiomatic, it is often used in phrases describing difficult recovery:
  • Gỡ gạc vốn: To recoup one's capital.
  • Gỡ gạc thể diện: To salvage one's pride/face.

1. (thông tục) như gỡ