nói khoác
Definition
- Verb:
- To boast / to brag: To speak with excessive pride about oneself, one's possessions, or one's achievements, often exaggerating the truth.
- To tell tall tales / to fib: To make statements that are not true, especially in a playful or exaggerated way to impress others.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Đừng tin anh ta, anh ta chỉ thích nói khoác thôi. (Don't believe him, he just likes to boast.)
- Bọn trẻ thường nói khoác về những món quà chúng nhận được. (Children often brag about the gifts they receive.)
- Câu chuyện đó nghe như nói khoác. (That story sounds like a tall tale.)
Advanced Usage
- The act of nói khoác can range from harmless exaggeration to deliberate deception intended to elevate one's status or story.
- It is often used in a disapproving tone to criticize someone for being untruthful or arrogant.
Variants and Related Words
- Khoe khoang (v): To show off, to flaunt. This focuses more on displaying possessions or achievements, while nói khoác focuses on verbal exaggeration.
- Cô ấy luôn khoe khoang chiếc xe mới. (She always shows off her new car.)
- Khoác lác (v): A synonym for nói khoác, meaning to brag or talk big.
- Anh ấy khoác lác về chuyến đi của mình. (He bragged about his trip.)
Synonyms
- Boast: To talk with excessive pride.
- Brag: To say something in a boastful manner.
- Exaggerate: To represent something as greater than it is.
- Fib: To tell a small, trivial lie.
Related Idioms
- Nói khoác như Cuội: To lie or exaggerate as famously as the mythical figure "Cuội," who is known in Vietnamese folklore for his tall tales.
- Lời hứa của nó, nói khoác như Cuội, đừng tin. (His promises are as reliable as Cuội's tales, don't believe them.)