lăn đùng
Definition
- Intransitive Verb:
- To fall down suddenly and heavily: To collapse or drop to the ground abruptly, often implying a loss of consciousness, a state of shock, or death. The action is unplanned and forceful.
- To fall over stiffly: To topple over in a rigid manner, like a log.
Usage Examples
- Intransitive Verb:
- Nghe tin dữ, ông ấy lăn đùng ra sàn. (Upon hearing the bad news, he collapsed onto the floor.)
- Con bò bị trúng đạn, lăn đùng ra chết. (The ox was shot and dropped dead on the spot.)
- Đang chạy, nó đột nhiên lăn đùng xuống đất. (While running, he suddenly fell flat on the ground.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "lăn đùng ra" is very common and emphasizes the resulting state after the fall (e.g., - to drop dead; - to fall down unconscious).
- It often describes a dramatic, sometimes vulgar or humorous, physical reaction to extreme emotion, illness, or a fatal blow.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngã lăn đùng: A synonym with the same meaning, combining "ngã" (to fall) with "lăn đùng".
- Lăn quay: To roll over; implies a rolling motion, not necessarily a sudden collapse.
- Đổ vật xuống: To slump down; less dramatic and vulgar than "lăn đùng".
Synonyms
- Collapse: To fall down suddenly, especially due to illness or weakness.
- Drop dead: To die suddenly and unexpectedly (corresponds to ).
- Fall in a heap: To fall and lie in an untidy, heavy pile.
Related Phrases
- Chết lăn đùng: To die instantly/suddenly.
- Lăn đùng không kịp trở tay: To be caught completely off guard and fall/collapse immediately (idiomatic).
Related Idioms
- While "lăn đùng" itself is a descriptive phrase, it is used in idiomatic expressions to emphasize suddenness and a complete lack of reaction, as in the example above ( - without having time to react).