Definition

1. Verb (colloquial, often vulgar):
   • To supplant; to oust and take the place of: To force someone out of their position, role, or advantage, often through cunning, treachery, or unfair means, and then occupy that place oneself.
   • To trip up; to undermine: Figuratively, to cause someone to fall or fail by creating an obstacle or using underhanded tactics.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hắn ta dùng mọi thủ đoạn để hất cẳng đối thủ và chiếm lấy vị trí giám đốc. (He used every trick to supplant his rival and seize the director's position.)
  • Công ty mới đã hất cẳng các đối thủ lâu năm để giành hợp đồng. (The new company ousted the long-standing competitors to win the contract.)
  • Đừng tin hắn, hắn chỉ đang tìm cách hất cẳng bạn mà thôi. (Don't trust him; he's just looking for a way to trip you up.)

Advanced Usage

• The term carries a strong negative connotation, implying deceit, betrayal, or a ruthless power struggle. It is more intense and vulgar than neutral synonyms like "thay thế" (to replace).

Variants and Related Words

• Hất (v): to flip, to toss, to throw off. This is the root verb implying a forceful, sudden removal.
• Cẳng (n, colloquial): leg, shank. The combination "hất cẳng" evokes the image of tripping someone by hooking their leg.

Synonyms

• Supplant: To take the place of, often through scheming.
• Oust: To force someone out of a position.
• Undermine: To weaken or impair, often secretly.
• Trip up: To cause to stumble or make a mistake.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Cắt ngang; giành giật: To cut in; to snatch away. These phrases describe similar aggressive actions but lack the specific imagery of tripping.
• Lật đổ: To overthrow. This is used for more significant power structures, like governments.
• Chơi xỏ: To play a dirty trick on someone. This shares the connotation of underhandedness.

1. Supplant, oust and take the place of