nẫng

Thân thiện

Một đứa trẻ nẫng chiếc bánh quy từ trong lọ.

Definition

1. Verb (colloquial):
   • To swipe, to pilfer, to snatch: To steal something quickly, slyly, or in a sneaky manner, often when the owner is momentarily distracted. It implies a swift, opportunistic act of theft.
   • To snatch away (an opportunity): Figuratively, to take an opportunity, advantage, or benefit from someone just before they can get it, akin to beating them to it.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi để điện thoại trên bàn, ai đó đã nẫng mất. (I left my phone on the table, someone swiped it.)
  • Nó nẫng mất cái bánh cuối cùng. (He snatched the last cake.)
  • Anh ta suýt được việc nhưng bị đồng nghiệp nẫng tay trên. (He almost got the job but a colleague snatched it away from him.)

Advanced Usage

• "nẫng tay trên": A set phrase meaning to get ahead of someone and take what they were about to get; to beat someone to the punch and deprive them of a benefit.
  • Hai công ty cùng muốn hợp tác, nhưng đối thủ đã nẫng tay trên. (Both companies wanted to cooperate, but the rival beat them to it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn cắp (v): To steal (more general term).
• Chôm (v, colloquial): To pinch, to nick (similar colloquial sense).
• Lấy trộm (v): To take stealthily, to pilfer.

Synonyms

• Swipe: To steal quickly and casually.
• Pilfer: To steal things of small value.
• Snatch: To take something quickly, often forcefully or stealthily.
• Filch: To steal something of little value in a casual way.

Related Idioms

• Nẫng mất cơ hội: To snatch away an opportunity.
  • Cậu ấy do dự nên bị nẫng mất cơ hội tốt. (He hesitated so a good opportunity was snatched away.)

Học thuật

1. (thông tục) Swipe, steal
   • Bị nẫng mất cái túi
     To have one's bag swiped