lỡ tay
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- To do something accidentally or unintentionally with one's hand: Refers to an action performed by hand that happens by mistake, without deliberate intent, often resulting in a minor accident or mishap.
- To slip with one's hand: Describes a moment of clumsiness or lack of control where the hand causes an unintended outcome.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Tôi lỡ tay làm đổ ly nước. (I accidentally knocked over the glass of water.)
- Cô ấy lỡ tay đánh rơi chiếc điện thoại. (She accidentally dropped the phone.)
- Anh ấy lỡ tay xóa nhầm tập tin quan trọng. (He accidentally deleted the important file.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe any unintentional action, not strictly limited to physical hand movements, though the core imagery remains.
- Trong lúc tranh luận, tôi đã lỡ tay gửi email đó đi. (During the argument, I accidentally sent that email.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lỡ miệng (adverbial phrase): to say something accidentally or unintentionally.
- Cô ấy lỡ miệng tiết lộ bí mật. (She accidentally revealed the secret.)
- Lỡ chân (adverbial phrase): to slip with one's foot, to take an accidental step.
- Cậu bé lỡ chân trượt ngã. (The boy slipped and fell.)
Synonyms
- Accidentally: happening by chance or unintentionally.
- Inadvertently: without intention; accidentally.
- Unintentionally: not done on purpose.
Related Idioms
- Lỡ tay, lỡ miệng: A saying highlighting that mistakes can be made easily by hand (action) or by mouth (speech), emphasizing human error.
- Lỡ bước, lỡ lời: Similar to the above, meaning to make a misstep or a misspoken word, denoting a regrettable accidental action.