hớt hơ hớt hải
Một người đàn ông hớt hơ hớt hải chạy ra khỏi tòa nhà khi chuông báo cháy reo.
Definition
- Adjective:
- Flustered, panicked, in a frantic hurry: Describes a state of being extremely rushed, disorganized, and anxious, often due to a sudden event or fear. It implies acting without composure or clear thought.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Nghe tin hỏa hoạn, mọi người hớt hơ hớt hải chạy ra khỏi tòa nhà. (Hearing the news of the fire, everyone ran out of the building in a frantic panic.)
- Anh ấy hớt hơ hớt hải tìm chìa khóa khi đã đến giờ họp. (He was flustered, searching for his keys when it was already time for the meeting.)
- Đừng có hớt hơ hớt hải như vậy, cứ bình tĩnh mà giải quyết. (Don't be so panicked and flustered like that; stay calm and handle it.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "hớt hơ hớt hải" is a reduplicative idiom (từ láy) that intensifies the meaning of haste and panic. It is often used to criticize or describe someone's lack of calm in a stressful situation.
- Cô ấy làm việc gì cũng hớt hơ hớt hải, nên hay mắc lỗi. (She does everything in a frantic rush, so she often makes mistakes.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hớt hải (adj): A shorter, slightly less intense form with the same core meaning of being in a panicked hurry.
- Thấy mưa to, nó hớt hải đóng cửa sổ. (Seeing the heavy rain, he hurriedly closed the window in a panic.)
- Cuống cuồng (adj): Frenzied, frantic. A close synonym emphasizing chaotic, wild behavior due to panic.
- Vội vã (adj): Hurried, hasty. Describes speed but not necessarily the accompanying panic or fear implied by "hớt hơ hớt hải".
Synonyms
- Hoảng hốt: To be startled, frightened, in a state of alarm.
- Lúng túng: To be flustered, confused, or awkward (often due to being put on the spot).
- Vội vàng: In a hurry, rushed.
Related Idioms
- While "hớt hơ hớt hải" is itself an idiomatic expression, it is often used in contexts similar to:
- "Mất bình tĩnh": To lose one's composure.
- Gặp sự cố, anh ta hoàn toàn mất bình tĩnh và hành động hớt hơ hớt hải. (Facing the incident, he completely lost his composure and acted in a panicked fluster.)