Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To play tricks / to act up: To behave in a mischievous, troublesome, or deceitful manner, often to cause annoyance or create an unnecessary situation.
   • To pull a stunt: To perform an unexpected, foolish, or attention-seeking action that is typically disapproved of.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Đứa trẻ lại đang giở trò để không phải đi ngủ. (The child is acting up again to avoid going to bed.)
  • Nó giở trò lừa đảo và bị bắt ngay sau đó. (He pulled a fraud stunt and was caught immediately.)
  • Đừng có giở trò gì ở đây. (Don't play any tricks here.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a sense of disapproval, annoyance, or warning. It suggests the action is deliberate, cunning, or disruptive.

Variants and Related Words

• Giở trò láo (v phr): To act up in a rude, impudent, or insolent manner.

  • Nó dám giở trò láo với thầy giáo. (He dared to act up insolently toward the teacher.)

• Giở trò mèo (v phr): To play catty or sneaky tricks.

  • Cô ấy thích giở trò mèo với đồng nghiệp. (She likes to play sneaky tricks on her colleagues.)

Synonyms

• To misbehave: To act badly or improperly.
• To monkey around: To act in a silly or playful way, causing trouble.
• To be up to something: To be secretly planning or doing something, often mischievous.

Related Idioms

• Giở trò giở quẻ: To show one's true (often bad) colors or to reveal a previously hidden, troublesome nature.

  • Hắn mới làm quản lý đã giở trò giở quẻ ngay. (He had just become a manager and immediately showed his true colors.)

• Giở thói giở trò: To exhibit bad habits or troublesome behavior repeatedly.

  • Thằng bé cứ giở thói giở trò mỗi khi vắng bố mẹ. (The boy always acts up whenever his parents are away.)