Definition

1. Verb:
   • To swallow: To cause food, drink, or something else to pass from the mouth, through the throat, and into the stomach.
   • To suppress / To hold back: To force oneself to endure or contain a strong emotion (like anger, pride, or tears) without expressing it outwardly.
   • To usurp / To seize: To take something (often property or money) for oneself in an unfair, deceitful, or overpowering manner.
   • To engulf / To overwhelm: For a stronger force (like a sound or visual element) to completely absorb or dominate another.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Anh ấy nuốt viên thuốc với một ngụm nước. (He swallows the pill with a sip of water.)
  • Cô ấy phải nuốt giận và mỉm cười. (She had to swallow her anger and smile.)
  • Tên trùm đã nuốt trọn số tiền đầu tư. (The boss usurped the entire investment sum.)
  • Tiếng ồn thành phố nuốt chửng lời nói của anh. (The city noise engulfed his words.)

Advanced Usage

• "nuốt lời": To go back on one's word; to break a promise.

  • Đừng hứa nếu bạn định nuốt lời. (Don't promise if you intend to go back on your word.)

• "nuốt sống": To swallow whole; figuratively, to defeat or absorb something completely and ruthlessly.

  • Công ty lớn có thể nuốt sống các đối thủ nhỏ. (A large company can swallow small competitors whole.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nuốt nước bọt (v): To swallow one's saliva; often indicating nervousness, desire, or an attempt to control oneself.

  • Nghe mùi đồ ăn, nó nuốt nước bọt. (Smelling the food, he swallowed his saliva.)

• Nuốt hận (v): To swallow one's resentment; to endure humiliation or bitterness silently.

  • Anh ta đành nuốt hận mà rút lui. (He had no choice but to swallow his resentment and withdraw.)

Synonyms

• Swallow: To pass through the throat to the stomach.
• Gulp: To swallow quickly or in large amounts.
• Suppress: To hold back or restrain (an emotion).
• Embezzle: To take (money or property) dishonestly (for the "usurp" sense).

Related Idioms

• Nuốt không trôi: Literally "cannot swallow it"; meaning to be unable to accept something because it is morally wrong or too difficult to bear.

  • Hành động tham nhũng đó khiến dân chúng nuốt không trôi. (That corrupt action is something the public cannot swallow.)

• Nuốt nước mắt: Literally "to swallow one's tears"; meaning to hold back tears and endure sorrow silently.

  • Cô ấy nuốt nước mắt và tiếp tục làm việc. (She swallowed her tears and continued working.)

verb

1. to swallow