Definition

Verb: - To look slyly, to glance furtively: To look quickly and repeatedly, often out of the corner of one's eyes, with a secretive, fearful, or guilty manner, then look away, afraid of being caught looking.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Nó lấm lét nhìn quanh rồi lặng lẽ bỏ đi. (He glanced around furtively and then quietly left.)
  • Đứa trẻ lấm lét nhìn mẹ để xem phản ứng. (The child peeked slyly at its mother to gauge her reaction.)
  • Tên trộm lấm lét nhìn ra cửa sổ. (The thief cast furtive glances out the window.)

Advanced Usage

• "lấm la lấm lét": A reduplicated form that intensifies the meaning, emphasizing a more pronounced or continuous state of looking around fearfully and sneakily.
  • Nó cứ lấm la lấm lét nhìn, không biết có chuyện gì. (He kept looking around so furtively; I wonder what's wrong.)

Variants and Related Words

• Liếc (verb): To glance, to look sideways. While "liếc" is a quick glance, "lấm lét" specifically implies a sneaky, fearful, or guilty connotation.
• Nhìn trộm (verb phrase): To peek, to look secretly. This is a more direct synonym for the action described by "lấm lét".

Synonyms

• To peek: To look quickly and secretly.
• To glance furtively: To look briefly in a secretive and guilty manner.

Related Idioms

• Lấm lét như quạ vào chuồng gà: (To look) as furtive as a crow entering a chicken coop. This idiom vividly describes someone looking around extremely sneakily and fearfully, like a predator in a dangerous place.
  • Kẻ gian lấm lét như quạ vào chuồng gà. (The thief looked as furtive as a crow in a henhouse.)

verb

1. to look slyly