giãy nảy
Definition
- Verb:
- To struggle violently; to thrash about: Refers to making sudden, forceful, and often uncontrolled movements of the body or limbs, typically in protest, resistance, or extreme discomfort.
- To react with strong, petulant objection; to throw a fit: Describes a vehement display of displeasure, defiance, or stubborn refusal, often in a childish or agitated manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đứa bé giãy nảy lên khi mẹ bắt nó đi tắm. (The child thrashed about when his mother made him take a bath.)
- Nó giãy nảy không chịu ngồi yên một chỗ. (He struggled/fussed and refused to sit still.)
- Cô ấy giãy nảy lên phản đối quyết định đó. (She threw a fit protesting that decision.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often implies a physical manifestation of a strong negative emotional state, such as anger, frustration, or petulance. It is frequently used to describe the behavior of children but can apply to adults behaving in a similarly uncontrolled way.
Variants and Related Words
- Giãy giụa (v): To writhe; to struggle convulsively (often in pain or as a last effort).
- Con cá giãy giụa trên thuyền. (The fish writhed on the boat.)
- Vùng vằng (v): To act sulkily or stubbornly; to show displeasure through reluctant, sullen movements.
- Nó vùng vằng bỏ đi không nói lời nào. (He stomped off sullenly without a word.)
Synonyms
- Thrash: To move or stir about violently.
- Struggle: To make forceful efforts to get free.
- Fuss: To show unnecessary or excessive excitement, agitation, or protest.
- Object vehemently: To protest in a strong, emotional way.
Related Idioms
- Giãy như đỉa phải vôi: To struggle/writhe intensely (like a leech touched by lime); used to describe someone reacting with extreme, panicked resistance.
- Nghe tin đó, hắn giãy như đỉa phải vôi. (Upon hearing that news, he thrashed about in a panic.)