nhỡ miệng
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To slip of the tongue / to have a slip of the tongue: To accidentally say something one did not intend to say, often something inappropriate, secret, or regrettable. It implies a momentary lapse of verbal control.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Tôi xin lỗi, tôi đã nhỡ miệng nói ra bí mật. (I'm sorry, I had a slip of the tongue and revealed the secret.)
- Đừng giận anh ấy, anh ấy chỉ nhỡ miệng thôi. (Don't be angry with him; it was just a slip of the tongue.)
- Cô ấy nhỡ miệng tiết lộ tin tức trước ngày công bố. (She let the news slip before the announcement date.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a connotation of regret or apology for the unintended utterance. It is used to explain and soften the impact of the spoken mistake.
- It is frequently used in past tense constructions (e.g., ) to describe the completed accidental action.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhỡ lời (verb phrase): A direct synonym, also meaning "to have a slip of the tongue." The words (word) and (mouth) are interchangeable here.
- Nó nhỡ lời, xin mọi người bỏ qua cho. (He misspoke; please forgive him.)
Synonyms
- To misspeak: To say something incorrectly or in a misleading way.
- To let something slip: To accidentally reveal a piece of information.
- A slip of the tongue: The noun form describing the accidental utterance itself.
Related Idioms
- While "nhỡ miệng" itself is a common fixed phrase, it is conceptually related to the English idiom "to put one's foot in one's mouth," which means to say something embarrassing, tactless, or offensive. However, "nhỡ miệng" is broader and can apply to any unintended statement, not necessarily one that is socially awkward.