Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To relax one's severity; to become less strict or harsh: "nới tay" describes the action of reducing strictness, pressure, or severity in control, punishment, or enforcement.
   • To loosen one's grip; to ease up: It can also imply easing control or restrictions in a more general sense.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Nhà trường đã nới tay trong việc quản lý học sinh. (The school relaxed its severity in managing students.)
  • Sau nhiều lời phản đối, chính quyền buộc phải nới tay. (After many protests, the authorities were forced to ease up.)
  • Anh ấy đã nới tay và cho phép con mình đi chơi. (He loosened his grip and allowed his child to go out.)

Advanced Usage

• "nới tay" in a figurative sense: Often used to describe a change in policy, attitude, or enforcement from a position of strictness to one of leniency.
  • Cuối cùng, người giám sát cũng nới tay và cho phép một vài ngoại lệ. (Finally, the supervisor also eased up and allowed a few exceptions.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nới lỏng (verb phrase): To loosen, to relax (rules, controls). This is a close synonym but often used in more formal or policy contexts.
  • Chính phủ nới lỏng các quy định về nhập cảnh. (The government loosened the entry regulations.)
• Bớt khắt khe (verb phrase): To become less strict. This is a more direct descriptive phrase.
  • Giám đốc cần bớt khắt khe hơn với nhân viên. (The director needs to be less strict with the employees.)

Synonyms

• Giảm áp lực: To reduce pressure.
• Làm dịu đi: To soften, to mitigate.
• Tha bớt: To be more lenient (often regarding punishment).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Nới rộng: To widen, to expand (e.g., a scope, an area). While related, it focuses on physical or conceptual expansion rather than a reduction in severity.
  • Nới rộng đường phố. (To widen the street.)

Related Idioms

• Xuống nước: To yield, to give in (often after being firm). This idiom implies conceding or backing down.
  • Thấy mọi người phản đối, ông chủ đành xuống nước. (Seeing everyone's opposition, the boss had to give in.)

1. Relax one's severitỵ.