giật lửa
Definition
- Verb (idiomatic):
- To borrow something (typically money or a small item) urgently due to a pressing, immediate need, with the explicit understanding that it will be repaid or returned very shortly, often within the same day or encounter.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Tôi phải giật lửa của hàng xóm 50 nghìn để mua thuốc. (I had to urgently borrow 50,000 VND from my neighbor to buy medicine.)
- Anh ấy giật lửa cái bật lửa của tôi rồi trả lại ngay. (He urgently borrowed my lighter and returned it immediately.)
- Có việc đột xuất, cô ấy phải đi giật lửa ít tiền. (An unexpected situation arose, so she had to go and urgently borrow some money.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase emphasizes the urgency and temporary nature of the borrowing. It implies a situation that cannot wait and carries a social expectation of prompt repayment, often between acquaintances.
- It is commonly used for small amounts of money or everyday items, not for large loans.
Variants and Related Words
- Giật nóng (v): A direct synonym with identical meaning and usage.
- Tôi cần giật nóng anh cái kéo một lát. (I need to urgently borrow your scissors for a moment.)
Synonyms
- To borrow in a pinch: To borrow out of urgent necessity.
- To get a quick loan: To obtain a loan for immediate use with fast repayment.
Related Idioms
- While "giật lửa" itself is an idiomatic verb, it is related to the concept of urgent need. A conceptually similar idiom is:
- Chữa cháy: Literally "to fight a fire," used figuratively to mean dealing with an urgent problem or emergency.
- Khoản tiền này chỉ để chữa cháy thôi. (This amount of money is just for dealing with an emergency.)
-
(cũng nói giật nóng) Borrow in an emergency (and pay back immediately)
