lướt tha lướt thướt
Definition
Adjective: - Dangling loosely and untidily; trailing sloppily: Describes something, typically long clothing or fabric, that hangs down in a messy, unkempt, or excessively long manner, often dragging or flowing without grace. - Moving or behaving in a languid, dragging, or slovenly way: Can describe a person's slow, careless, or untidy manner of movement or appearance.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Cô ấy mặc chiếc váy lướt tha lướt thướt trên sàn nhà. (She wore a dress that trailed sloppily on the floor.)
- Mấy sợi dây lướt tha lướt thướt từ mái hiệu xuống. (Some wires hung down loosely and untidily from the awning.)
- Anh ta đi lại lướt tha lướt thướt trong bộ đồ ngủ rộng thùng thình. (He moved around in a slovenly way in his oversized pajamas.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is a reduplicative compound, where "lướt thướt" is intensified and given a more descriptive, often more negative, connotation by the addition of "lướt tha." It emphasizes excessive length, messiness, or a lack of neatness.
Variants and Related Words
- Lướt thướt (adj): Dragging, trailing; long and untidy. This is the base form.
- Tà áo dài lướt thướt sau lưng cô. (The long tunic trailed behind her.)
Synonyms
- Trailing: hanging down and moving along behind.
- Bedraggled: messy and wet or dirty from being dragged.
- Slovenly: untidy and dirty in appearance.
- Dangling: hanging or swinging loosely.
Related Idioms
- While not a standalone idiom, the phrase itself is idiomatic in Vietnamese, vividly painting a picture of untidy, excessive length or sloppy movement.