Definition

1. Verb:
   • To cross-examine, to cross-question: The act of asking follow-up questions immediately after each answer, delving deeper into details or aspects to make it difficult for the person answering to hide information or to confuse them.
   • To interrogate rigorously: To question someone persistently and in detail, often to the point of causing embarrassment or pressure.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cảnh sát hỏi vặn nghi phạm cho đến khi anh ta thú tội. (The police cross-examined the suspect until he confessed.)
  • Giám khảo hỏi vặn thí sinh về mọi chi tiết trong bài luận. (The examiner cross-questioned the candidate about every detail in the essay.)
  • Đừng hỏi vặn tôi như thế, tôi đã nói tất cả những gì tôi biết rồi. (Don't cross-examine me like that; I've already said everything I know.)

Advanced Usage

• "hỏi vặn hỏi vẹo": An intensified form of "hỏi vặn," implying even more persistent, tricky, or convoluted questioning aimed at cornering someone.
  • Anh ấy cứ hỏi vặn hỏi vẹo tôi về chuyện cũ. (He kept cross-questioning me relentlessly about the past matter.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thẩm vấn (v): To interrogate (often in a formal or official context like police work).
• Chất vấn (v): To question, to interrogate (often in a political or formal debate context).
• Tra hỏi (v): To question, to inquire (can be neutral or intensive).

Synonyms

• Cross-examine: To question (a witness called by the other party) in a court of law to challenge or test testimony.
• Grill (informal): To question someone intensely and persistently.
• Pump someone for information: To try to get information from someone by asking many questions.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "hỏi vặn" is a Vietnamese verb, it does not have English phrasal verbs. The concept is expressed through single verbs or phrases like those listed in the synonyms.

Related Idioms

• "To put someone on the spot": To place someone in a situation where they must answer difficult questions or make a decision immediately, often causing discomfort.
  • Câu hỏi của phóng viên đã đặt vị bộ trưởng vào thế bí. (The reporter's question put the minister on the spot.)
• "To give someone the third degree": To question someone aggressively and for a long time.
  • Bố mẹ cô ấy hỏi vặn bạn trai mới của cô ấy thật kỹ. (Her parents gave her new boyfriend the third degree.)

1. Cross-examine, cross-question (for exhaustive information or to embarrass the person)

Idioms

• Hỏi vặn hỏi vẹo
  như hỏi vặn (ý mạnh hơn)