Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To take cover behind someone's shadow: To seek protection, safety, or advantage by placing oneself under the authority, influence, or power of another person or entity.
   • To shield oneself with someone's power: To use another person's status, influence, or prestige as a cover for one's own actions or to avoid direct responsibility or danger.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Hắn ta thường nấp bóng các quan chức để làm việc phi pháp. (He often takes cover behind officials to carry out illegal deeds.)
  • Công ty đó nấp bóng một tập đoàn lớn để kinh doanh. (That company shields itself with the power of a large corporation to do business.)
  • Không nên nấp bóng người khác để trốn tránh trách nhiệm. (One should not hide behind others to evade responsibility.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of independence, cowardice, or unethical reliance on another's strength for protection or unfair advantage.
• It can be used in political, social, or business contexts to describe cronyism or the act of exploiting connections.

Variants and Related Words

• Ẩn náu (v): to take refuge, to hide. This is a more general term for seeking shelter without the specific connotation of using someone's influence.
• Dựa hơi (v, colloquial): to lean on someone's influence; to rely on someone's backing. Similar to "nấp bóng" but often used in more everyday contexts.

Synonyms

• To hide behind: To use someone or something as a shield or protection.
• To take refuge under: To seek safety under the auspices of.
• To cloak oneself in someone's authority: To disguise one's actions with another's official power.

Related Idioms

• Cậy thế hách dịch: To throw one's weight around (to rely on one's own power, which is somewhat the opposite action).
• Chó cậy gần nhà: A dog barks fiercely near its own home (a proverb about relying on a familiar, powerful position).

1. Take cover behind (shield oneself with) someone's power
   • Nấp bóng kẻ quyền thế
     To shield oneself with the influence of important people