lên khuôn
Definition
- Verb:
- To impose / lock up (printing): In traditional printing, this refers to the process of placing composed type into a metal frame (chase) to prepare it for the press, securing it so it will not move during printing.
- To dress up / to get dolled up (colloquial): Used informally to describe someone dressing in formal, neat, or fancy clothes, often for a special occasion.
Usage Examples
- Verb (printing):
- Bài báo đã được lên khuôn và sẵn sàng in. (The newspaper article has been imposed and is ready for printing.)
- Verb (dressing up):
- Cậu ấy lên khuôn đi đám cưới à? (Is he all dressed up to go to a wedding?)
Advanced Usage
- The printing meaning is technical and specific to the publishing industry. The colloquial meaning is often used in everyday speech with a slightly humorous or teasing tone.
Variants and Related Words
- Sắp chữ (v): to typeset, to compose type. This is the step before "lên khuôn."
- Công đoạn sắp chữ rất tỉ mỉ. (The typesetting process is very meticulous.)
Synonyms
- Printing context: to lock up, to impose.
- Dressing context: to dress up, to smarten up, to get spruced up.
Related Idioms
- While "lên khuôn" itself is not typically part of a longer idiom, the dressing-up meaning is inherently informal and figurative, comparing a person's prepared appearance to a prepared printing plate.