Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Squinting; cross-eyed: Describes eyes that are misaligned, where each eye looks in a slightly different direction. It can refer to a permanent condition (strabismus) or a temporary action of squinting.
   • Squinty-eyed: Often used to describe a look that is sidelong, sly, or fearful, characterized by partially closed eyes looking askance.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Cậu bé bị mắt lé. (The boy has a squint / is cross-eyed.)
  • Cô ấy lé mắt nhìn qua khe cửa. (She squinted her eyes to look through the door crack.)
  • Ánh nhìn lé của hắn khiến mọi người không tin tưởng. (His shifty, squinty look made people distrust him.)

Advanced Usage

• The word can be used to imply a look that is not direct, often associated with sneakiness, suspicion, or an attempt to see something without being obvious.
  • Anh ta chỉ dám lé mắt nhìn bức tranh cấm. (He only dared to glance sidelong at the forbidden painting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Le lé (adj): A reduplicated form that can imply a slight, repeated, or more nuanced squinting action.
  • Đứa trẻ le lé nhìn người lạ. (The child kept peeking furtively at the stranger.)

Synonyms

• Squint: To look with partially closed eyes.
• Cross-eyed: Having eyes that turn inward toward the nose.
• Wall-eyed: Having eyes that turn outward (a specific type of misalignment).
• Sidelong: (Of a look) directed from the side; not direct.

Related Idioms and Expressions

• Lé mắt: To squint; to peek or glance furtively. This is the most common collocation.
  • Đừng lé mắt nhìn bài của bạn. (Don't peek at your friend's test.)
• Mắt lé: A descriptive phrase meaning "squinty eyes" or "a cross-eyed condition."
  • Anh ấy có đôi mắt lé từ nhỏ. (He has had cross-eyed eyes since childhood.)

adj

1. squint; cook-eyed
   • mắt lé
     squint eyes