luồn lỏi
Definition
- Verb:
- To worm one's way (into/through): To move or proceed in a cunning, stealthy, or insinuating manner, often through narrow or restricted spaces, whether physical or social, typically to gain an advantage, favor, or benefit.
- To be scheming / to be opportunistic: To act in a calculated, often unscrupulous way, maneuvering through situations or networks to secure personal gain.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hắn ta luồn lỏi vào các cơ quan chính phủ để kiếm hợp đồng. (He wormed his way into government agencies to secure contracts.)
- Bọn buôn lậu luồn lỏi qua biên giới. (The smugglers insinuated their way across the border.)
- Đừng tin hắn, hắn chỉ giỏi luồn lỏi để thăng tiến. (Don't trust him; he's only good at scheming for promotion.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a strong negative connotation, implying deceit, lack of principle, or exploitation of loopholes.
- It can describe both literal, physical maneuvering (e.g., through a crowd, a fence) and figurative, social maneuvering (e.g., through bureaucracy, social circles).
Variants and Related Words
- Luồn lách (v): A near-synonym, also meaning to wiggle through or to act in an evasive, cunning manner.
- Nó luồn lách qua các khe hở của pháp luật. (He wiggles through the loopholes in the law.)
Synonyms
- To insinuate oneself: To subtly and artfully gain favor or penetrate a group.
- To maneuver cunningly: To plan and act with clever, often deceptive, strategy.
- To be an opportunist: To exploit circumstances for immediate gain.
Related Idioms
- Luồn lỏi như rắn: To be as slippery as a snake; describing someone who is extremely cunning and deceitful.
- Tên tội phạm đó luồn lỏi như rắn, cảnh sát khó bắt lắm. (That criminal is as slippery as a snake; the police find it hard to catch him.)
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Worm one's way into for benefits
