Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To go back on one's word: To intentionally fail to keep a promise or commitment one has made.
   • To break one's promise: To not do what one said one would do.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ấy đã hứa giúp tôi, nhưng cuối cùng lại nuốt lời. (He promised to help me, but in the end, he went back on his word.)
  • Đừng bao giờ nuốt lời với trẻ con. (Never break your promise to children.)
  • Công ty đã nuốt lời về việc tăng lương cho nhân viên. (The company went back on its word about raising salaries for employees.)

Advanced Usage

• "nuốt lời hứa": to go back on a promise (a more specific and emphatic form).
  • Việc nuốt lời hứa sẽ làm mất lòng tin. (Going back on a promise will destroy trust.)
• Used in formal or serious contexts to criticize a breach of commitment, often implying a loss of trust or honor.

Variants and Related Words

• Thất hứa (v): to break a promise. (A more common, direct synonym.)
• Cáo từ (v): to renege (on a deal/agreement). (More formal, often used in business/legal contexts.)
• Bội ước (v): to break a vow/oath. (Stronger, often for solemn promises like marriage or treaties.)

Synonyms

• Break a promise: (General equivalent)
• Go back on one's word: (Closest direct translation)
• Fail to keep one's word: (Descriptive synonym)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Ăn lời / Ăn lời hứa: (Rare, regional) Has a similar meaning to "nuốt lời," implying taking back or consuming one's spoken words.

Related Idioms

• Hứa hươu hứa vượn: To make empty promises (literally: to promise a deer, promise a gibbon). This idiom describes making many promises one doesn't intend to keep, which is related to the action of "nuốt lời."
• Hứa như đúng rồi: To promise as if it's already done (sarcastic). This implies a promise is made confidently but is likely to be broken ("nuốt lời").

1. Go back on one ' s word
   • Hức trịnh trọng thế mà rồi lại nuốt lời
     To go back on one's word after making such a solemn promise