Definition

1. Verb:
   • To turn away abruptly in anger or annoyance: "ngoảy" describes the action of quickly turning one's body or face away from someone or something due to being upset, offended, or in a sulk.
   • (Regional/Dialectal) To wag, to wiggle: In some regional dialects, "ngoảy" can mean to move something (like a tail) with short, quick motions from side to side or up and down.

Usage Examples

• Verb (To turn away in anger):

  • Cô ấy tức giận và ngoảy đi mà không nói gì. (She was angry and turned away without saying a word.)
  • Đừng có ngoảy mỗi khi bị mẹ mắng. (Don't sulk and turn away every time your mother scolds you.)

• Verb (Regional: To wag):

  • Con chó vui mừng ngoảy đuôi. (The happy dog wagged its tail.)

Advanced Usage

• "ngoay ngoảy" (reduplicated form, intensive meaning): This form emphasizes the action, suggesting a more pronounced, quicker, or more stubborn turn away due to anger or petulance.
  • Thằng bé hờn dỗi, ngoay ngoảy bỏ vào phòng. (The boy was sulking and stubbornly turned away to go into his room.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ngoáy (verb): To wiggle, to poke (e.g., with a finger). Note: This is a different but phonetically similar verb, often confused. "Ngoáy tai" means to clean one's ear (by wiggling a cotton swab).
• Ngoắt (verb): To flick, to make a quick turning or waving motion (e.g., "ngoắt tay" - to beckon by flicking the hand).

Synonyms

• Quay đi (verb): To turn away.
• Hờn dỗi (verb): To sulk, to pout (describes the emotional state often accompanying the action of "ngoảy").
• Vẫy (verb): To wave (a closer synonym for the regional "wag" meaning).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Ngoảy đi: To turn and go away (in anger).
  • Anh ta tức quá, ngoảy đi luôn. (He was so angry he just turned and left.)

Related Idioms

• Ngoay ngoảy như đỉa phải vôi: (Literally: Wiggling like a leech touched with lime). This idiom vividly describes someone fidgeting, squirming, or unable to sit still, often due to anxiety, impatience, or irritation. It relates to the sense of agitated movement found in "ngoảy."
  • Chờ mãi không thấy, nó ngồi ngoay ngoảy như đỉa phải vôi. (Waiting forever without seeing anyone, he sat there fidgeting impatiently.)

1. Turn away in anger
2. Ngoay ngoảy (láy, ý tăng)
   • Ngoay ngoảy bỏ đi, không nói nữa lời
     To turn away in anger without saying a word.
3. (địa phương) Wag, waggle
   • Chó ngoảy đuôi
     The dog wags its tail