lật mặt
Definition
- Verb (figurative):
- To turn on someone / to betray: To suddenly and unexpectedly change one's attitude or loyalty from friendly or supportive to hostile, unfriendly, or treacherous.
- To flip / to do an about-face: To reverse one's position, opinion, or behavior in a sudden and often shocking manner.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hắn là bạn thân nhưng đột nhiên lật mặt với tôi. (He was a close friend but suddenly turned on me.)
- Công ty đó đã lật mặt và hủy hợp đồng. (That company did an about-face and canceled the contract.)
- Đừng tin hắn, hắn có thể lật mặt bất cứ lúc nào. (Don't trust him; he can flip at any time.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in a negative, figurative sense to describe a breach of trust or a shocking reversal in interpersonal or professional relationships. It implies deceit and a lack of integrity.
Variants and Related Words
- Lật lọng (v): To be double-dealing, to act in a treacherous and deceitful manner. This is a stronger synonym often implying cunning and conspiracy.
- Hắn chuyên lật lọng để kiếm lợi. (He specializes in double-dealing for profit.)
Synonyms
- To betray: To be disloyal to someone who trusts you.
- To turn on someone: To suddenly become hostile toward a former ally or friend.
- To do an about-face: To make a complete and sudden change in opinion or policy.
Related Idioms
- Lật mặt như bánh tráng: To flip as quickly as a rice paper sheet (which cooks almost instantly). This idiom emphasizes the speed and ease of the betrayal.
- Lời hứa của anh ta không đáng tin, anh ta có thể lật mặt như bánh tráng. (His promise is not trustworthy; he can flip in an instant.)