Definition

1. Adjective (colloquial):
   • To be tricked / to be deceived: The state of having been successfully fooled or duped by someone's lie, scheme, or trick.
   • To fall for a trick / to be taken in: To believe something false, resulting in being trapped or disadvantaged by the deceiver's plan.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Tôi đã mắc lừa lừa đảo qua điện thoại. (I was tricked by a phone scam.)
  • Đừng tin lời hứa đó, bạn sẽ mắc lừa đấy. (Don't believe that promise, you'll be deceived.)
  • Cậu bé mắc lừa khi nghĩ rằng đây là một trò chơi vô hại. (The boy was taken in when he thought this was a harmless game.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "mắc lừa" often implies a sense of regret or foolishness on the part of the victim for having trusted the deceiver. It is commonly used in narratives about fraud, cons, or simple practical jokes.

Variants and Related Words

• Bị lừa (v): to be deceived. This is a more standard, neutral synonym.

  • Cô ấy bị lừa mất một khoản tiền lớn. (She was deceived out of a large sum of money.)

• Mắc bẫy (v): to fall into a trap. This can be used literally or figuratively.

  • Con vật mắc bẫy của thợ săn. (The animal fell into the hunter's trap.)

Synonyms

• To be duped: To be deceived.
• To be fooled: To be tricked.
• To be hoodwinked: To be deceived or tricked (more informal).
• To be swindled: To be cheated out of money or property.

Related Idioms

• Mắc mưu: To fall for a scheme or plot. Very similar in meaning and usage to "mắc lừa."

  • Hắn ta dễ dàng mắc mưu của đối thủ. (He easily fell for his opponent's scheme.)

• Tin vịt: To believe a false story or hoax ("tin vịt" literally means "duck news," akin to "fake news").

  • Nhiều người mắc lừa vì tin vào những tin vịt trên mạng. (Many people are deceived because they believe fake news online.)

adj

1. to be trapped