Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To swallow whole / to devour: Literally, to consume something without chewing, often used for animals. Figuratively, it means to seize or appropriate something completely and forcefully, leaving nothing behind.
   • To pocket by force / to appropriate cynically: To take something from someone, especially money or property, in a brazen, unfair, or predatory manner, often through coercion or abuse of power.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Con trăn lớn nuốt sống con mồi. (The large python swallows its prey whole.)
  • Tên cho vay nặng lãi đó nuốt sống mảnh đất của gia đình tôi. (That loan shark appropriated my family's land by force.)
  • Nó nuốt sống của tôi ba nghìn đồng. (He cynically pocketed three thousand dongs from me.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "nuốt sống" is often used in economic or social contexts to describe corrupt, exploitative, or predatory practices where a stronger entity completely consumes a weaker one's resources.
  • Công ty lớn nuốt sống các đối thủ cạnh tranh nhỏ. (The large company devours its smaller competitors.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nuốt tươi (verb phrase): This is a direct synonym with identical meaning and usage to "nuốt sống."
  • Kẻ lừa đảo nuốt tươi số tiền tiết kiệm của bà lão. (The scammer brazenly swallowed the old woman's life savings.)

Synonyms

• Appropriate: To take something for one's own use, typically without permission.
• Embezzle: To steal or misappropriate money placed in one's trust.
• Devour: To consume greedily or destructively.
• Swallow whole: To consume something entirely without chewing.

Related Idioms

• While "nuốt sống" itself is an idiomatic phrase, it is the core component of expressions describing ruthless appropriation.
  • Nuốt sống nuốt tươi: Used for emphasis, meaning to completely and mercilessly seize everything.

    • Chúng nuốt sống nuốt tươi tài sản công. (They brazenly and completely devoured public assets.)

1. cũng nói nuốt tươi Pocket by force, appropriate by force swallow