long tóc gáy
Definition
- Idiom (figurative expression):
- To be so scared that one's hair stands on end: Describes a state of extreme fear or terror, often causing a physical reaction like goosebumps or the sensation of hair rising, particularly on the back of the neck (the nape).
- To run away in abject fear: To flee very quickly because one is terrified, typically from being chased or from encountering something frightening.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Nghe tiếng hú trong đêm, nó sợ đến long tóc gáy. (Hearing the howl in the night, he was scared to the point his hair stood on end.)
- Bọn trẻ long tóc gáy chạy khỏi ngôi nhà hoang. (The children ran away from the abandoned house in abject fear.)
Advanced Usage
- This idiom is often used to intensify descriptions of fear in narratives. It emphasizes a visceral, physical reaction to fright, not just a mental feeling.
Variants and Related Words
- Dựng tóc gáy (idiom): Has a very similar meaning of "to make one's hair stand on end," often used for sudden, shocking fright.
- Câu chuyện ma đó nghe mà dựng tóc gáy. (That ghost story is hair-raising to listen to.)
Synonyms
- To be terrified: To be filled with overwhelming fear.
- To be horrified: To be struck with horror or shock.
- To flee in panic: To run away in a sudden, uncontrollable fear.
Related Idioms
- Sợ vãi cả đái (vulgar slang): To be scared shitless; expresses an even more extreme, crude degree of fear.
- Sợ xanh mặt: To be scared pale; to be so frightened one turns pale.