Definition

1. Noun:
   • Lair, den: A hidden or secluded place where animals, especially wild animals, live, rest, or raise their young. It often implies a place of refuge or safety for the creature.
   • Den, hideout: By extension, it refers to a secret or hidden place used by people engaged in illicit or criminal activities, such as thieves or gangs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Con hổ trở về hang ổ của nó sau khi đi săn. (The tiger returned to its lair after hunting.)
  • Cảnh sát đã đột kích vào hang ổ của bọn tội phạm. (The police raided the criminals' den.)

Advanced Usage

• "hang ổ của cái ác": den of iniquity; a place where wicked or immoral activities are concentrated.
  • Khu phố đó từng được coi là hang ổ của cái ác. (That neighborhood was once considered a den of iniquity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hang (noun): Cave, grotto. Refers primarily to a natural cave.
  • Hang động này rất sâu và tối. (This cave is very deep and dark.)
• Ổ (noun): Nest. Refers primarily to a bird's nest or a place where something is concentrated.
  • Con chim đang xây ổ trên cành cây. (The bird is building a nest on the tree branch.)

Synonyms

• Sào huyệt (noun): Stronghold, lair. Often used for the base of operations for criminals or enemies.
• Nơi ẩn náu (noun): Hiding place, refuge. A more general term for any place of concealment.

Related Phrases

• "Dọn hang ổ": To clean out/raid a den. Used literally for animal dens or figuratively for criminal hideouts.
  • Chính quyền quyết tâm dọn sạch các hang ổ tội phạm. (The authorities are determined to clean out the criminal dens.)

Related Idioms

• "Như rắn mất ổ": Like a snake that has lost its den. Describes a state of confusion, panic, or having nowhere to go.
  • Sau khi căn cứ bị phá hủy, bọn chúng hoảng loạn như rắn mất ổ. (After their base was destroyed, they panicked like snakes that had lost their den.)

1. lair (of animals).
2. (b) Den (of thieves...)