giở trời
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- For the weather to turn bad / to take a turn for the worse: Used to describe a sudden, unfavorable change in the weather, typically from good or clear conditions to bad, such as cloudy, rainy, or stormy.
- To feel unwell due to weather changes: Used to describe a person (often elderly or sensitive individuals) feeling physically unwell, fatigued, or losing their appetite because of a shift in the weather.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sáng nắng đẹp, trưa nay bỗng giở trời, gió mạnh và mây đen kéo đến. (It was beautifully sunny this morning, but by noon it suddenly took a turn for the worse, with strong winds and dark clouds moving in.)
- Hôm nay trời trở lạnh, bà nội tôi hơi giở trời, nên chỉ nằm nghỉ. (It got cold today, my grandmother is feeling a bit under the weather, so she's just resting.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a connotation of unpredictability and inconvenience caused by the sudden change. It is commonly used in everyday conversation to explain a shift in plans or physical state due to the weather.
Variants and Related Words
- Trở trời (verb phrase): A very common synonym with identical meanings (to turn bad for weather; to feel unwell due to weather changes).
- Chân tôi lại đau, chắc trở trời. (My leg hurts again; the weather must be changing.)
Synonyms
- For weather: To turn bad, to become inclement, to take a turn.
- For health: To feel under the weather, to be weather-sensitive, to feel off due to the weather.
Related Idioms
- Giở giọng: To change one's tone (often to a negative or hostile one).
- Anh ta đột nhiên giở giọng đe dọa. (He suddenly changed his tone to a threatening one.)
- This connection highlights the core meaning of "giở" in these phrases: an unfavorable change or turn.