Definition

Verb: 1. To bluff; to deceive with a show or pretense: To intentionally mislead someone by creating a false impression of strength, knowledge, or resources. 2. (Archaic/Less common) To shine or flash brightly: To emit a sudden, bright, often dazzling light. This meaning is now more commonly found in the compound word "lòe" (e.g., sáng lòe).

Usage Examples

• Verb (To bluff/deceive):
  • Anh ta chỉ đang loè tôi thôi, thực ra hắn chẳng biết gì cả. (He's just bluffing me; in fact, he knows nothing.)
  • Đừng để bị loè bởi vẻ bề ngoài hào nhoáng của nó. (Don't be deceived by its flashy appearance.)
• Verb (To shine - archaic/compound context):
  • Ánh đèn loè lên trong đêm. (The light flashed in the night.) [Note: More natural in modern Vietnamese as ánh đèn lóe lên or sáng lòe].

Advanced Usage

• "Loè đời": To bluff or show off to people in general; to try to impress or deceive the public.
  • Hắn chỉ giỏi loè đời bằng những lời nói khoác lác. (He's only good at bluffing people with boastful words.)
• "Loè thiên hạ": Similar to "loè đời," meaning to bluff or show off to everyone.
  • Mấy chiêu thức đó chỉ đủ để loè thiên hạ chứ không qua mặt được chuyên gia. (Those tricks are only enough to bluff the crowd, not to fool an expert.)

Variants and Related Words

• Lòe (adj/verb in compounds): Often used in reduplicated forms or compounds to describe brightness or deception.
  • Sáng lòe (adj): Dazzlingly bright.
  • Lòe loẹt (adj): Gaudy, flashy, overly bright and showy (often in a tasteless way).
• Lóa (verb): To dazzle (with light), to be blindingly bright. This is the more standard modern verb for a bright flash of light.
• Lừa dối (verb): To deceive, to cheat (a more general synonym for the deceptive aspect).

Synonyms

• Bịp (verb): To swindle, to con (colloquial).
• Lừa bịp (verb): To deceive, to trick.
• Khoác lác (verb): To boast, to brag (focuses on the verbal aspect of deception).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As a single verb, "loè" does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically straightforward or in the fixed phrases listed under "Advanced Usage."

Related Idioms

• "Loè mắt": Literally "to dazzle the eyes," used figuratively to mean to impress or deceive someone superficially.
  • Chiếc xe mới của anh ấy đủ để loè mắt hàng xóm. (His new car is enough to dazzle/impress the neighbors.)
• "Nói loè": To talk in a bluffing or deceptive manner.
  • Đừng tin hắn, hắn chỉ đang nói loè. (Don't believe him, he's just talking bluff.)

verb

1. to bluff