Definition

1. Adjective (Reduplicative Idiom):
   • Sloppy, slovenly, untidy: Describes a person's appearance as messy, unkempt, or dressed in loose, dragging, and disheveled clothing. It emphasizes a lack of neatness and care in one's attire.
   • Dragging, trailing: Can describe the manner of moving or walking while wearing clothes that are too long, loose, or improperly fastened, causing them to drag along.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cậu bé mặc quần áo lếch tha lếch thếch. (The boy is dressed in sloppy, dragging clothes.)
  • Đi đâu mà lếch tha lếch thếch thế kia? (Where are you going looking so slovenly like that?)
  • Bộ đồ rộng khiến cô ấy trông lếch tha lếch thếch. (The oversized outfit made her look untidy and disheveled.)

Advanced Usage

• This is a reduplicative idiom, a common feature in Vietnamese where a base word ("lếch thếch") is expanded to "lếch tha lếch thếch" for enhanced descriptive effect, often adding a sense of rhythm and emphasis on the messy, dragging quality.

Variants and Related Words

• Lếch thếch (adj): The shorter, base form meaning sloppy, untidy, or dragging.
  • Áo anh ấy mặc lếch thếch. (His shirt is worn sloppily.)

Synonyms

• Untidy: Not neat or arranged in order.
• Slovenly: Messy and dirty in appearance.
• Disheveled: Untidy, disordered (especially of hair or clothing).
• Sloppy: Careless and unsystematic in appearance.

Related Idioms

• Ăn mặc luộm thuộm: To dress messily. This is a close synonym but does not carry the same connotation of "dragging" as "lếch tha lếch thếch."
  • Không nên ăn mặc luộm thuộm khi đi phỏng vấn. (You shouldn't dress messily for an interview.)