ngỏ gật
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To doze off while sitting; to nod off in a seated position: Refers to the act of falling into a light, unintended sleep while sitting, typically characterized by the head nodding forward or bobbing.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Ông cụ thường ngỏ gật trên ghế sau bữa trưa. (The old man often dozes off in his chair after lunch.)
- Trong cuộc họp dài, một vài người bắt đầu ngỏ gật. (During the long meeting, a few people started to nod off.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase vividly describes a specific, common state of drowsiness. It is often used in informal, descriptive contexts to paint a picture of someone struggling to stay awake.
Variants and Related Words
Ngủ gật (verb phrase): to nod off; to doze. A more common and general synonym.
- Cậu bé ngủ gật trên xe buýt. (The boy nodded off on the bus.)
Gật gù (verb): to nod repeatedly. This can indicate agreement or, in a different context, the motion of a head nodding from sleepiness.
- Anh ấy gật gù đồng ý. (He nodded in agreement.)
Synonyms
- To doze off: to fall into a light sleep.
- To nod off: to begin to sleep, especially unintentionally.
Related Idioms
- While "ngỏ gật" itself is a descriptive phrase, it relates to the common experience of fighting sleep, often described in idioms like "buồn ngủ gật" (so sleepy one is nodding off).