Definition

1. Verb (slang):
   • To die, to kick the bucket: A crude and informal term meaning to die or to be completely dead. It emphasizes finality and often a lack of dignity.
   • To be completely off/dead: Used for machines, lights, or engines to mean they have stopped working completely and utterly.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con chuột trong bẫy đã ngỏm từ sáng. (The mouse in the trap kicked the bucket this morning.)
  • Sau cú sốc điện, cái tivi ngỏm luôn. (After the power surge, the TV died completely.)
  • Đèn đường tắt ngỏm cả dãy. (The street lights are completely out along the whole row.)

Advanced Usage

• The word is almost always used in a blunt, humorous, or irreverent context. It is not used for solemn occasions.
• It frequently appears in the phrase "tắt ngỏm" or "chết ngỏm", which intensifies the meaning of being completely off or dead.

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoẻo (v, slang): A synonym with identical meaning and usage to "ngỏm".
  • Pin điện thoại tắt ngoẻo. (The phone battery is completely dead.)

Synonyms

• To die: To stop living.
• To conk out: To break down, to stop working (for machines).
• To be kaput: To be broken or finished (informal).

Related Idioms

• Chết ngỏm: To be stone dead.

  • Chiếc xe máy cũ của tôi chết ngỏm giữa đường. (My old motorbike conked out stone dead in the middle of the road.)

• Tắt ngỏm: To be completely extinguished or switched off.

  • Mất điện, cả thành phố tối om, tắt ngỏm. (The power went out, the whole city was pitch dark, completely blacked out.)

1. (thông tục) như ngoẻo