lộ tẩy
Definition
- Verb (informal):
- To be exposed / to be revealed: To have one's true, usually negative, nature, intentions, or deceitful actions discovered and made public.
- To be found out: To be caught in a dishonest act or scheme, leading to the loss of one's hidden facade.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Âm mưu của hắn cuối cùng đã bị lộ tẩy. (His plot was finally exposed.)
- Tên lừa đảo bị lộ tẩy khi một nạn nhân nhận ra hắn. (The scammer was found out when a victim recognized him.)
- Bộ mặt giả dối của nó đã lộ tẩy trước mọi người. (His hypocritical face was revealed to everyone.)
Advanced Usage
- The term "lộ tẩy" carries a strong connotation of shame and disgrace. It is almost exclusively used for situations involving deception, bad intentions, or a hidden, unsavory truth coming to light. It is not used for neutral or positive revelations.
Variants and Related Words
- Lộ (v): to reveal, to disclose (a more general, neutral term).
- Anh ấy không muốn lộ bí mật. (He does not want to disclose the secret.)
- Tẩy (v): to wash, to cleanse, to whitewash. In "lộ tẩy", it implies the failure of such a "cleansing" or covering-up attempt.
Synonyms
- To be exposed: To be made visible, especially something concealed or shameful.
- To be unmasked: To have one's true identity or character revealed.
- To be found out: To be discovered doing something wrong.
Related Idioms
- "Lộ nguyên hình": To reveal one's original (and often monstrous or true) form; to show one's true colors.
- Đến cuối cùng, kẻ phản bội đã lộ nguyên hình. (In the end, the traitor showed his true colors.)
- "Vỡ lở": To break open, to be uncovered (often for secrets or scandals).
- Vụ bê bối đã vỡ lở trên báo chí. (The scandal broke open in the press.)