phanh thây
Definition
- Verb:
- To quarter: A historical method of execution involving tearing a person's body apart, typically by tying each limb to a different horse or elephant and driving them in opposite directions.
- To tear limb from limb: Used figuratively or as a severe curse to express extreme anger or a desire to violently destroy someone.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hình phạt phanh thây bị coi là man rợ thời trung cổ. (The punishment of quartering was considered barbaric in medieval times.)
- Hắn thề sẽ phanh thây kẻ phản bội. (He swore he would tear the traitor limb from limb.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used in historical contexts or as a potent, hyperbolic curse in modern Vietnamese. It conveys extreme violence and vengeance.
Variants and Related Words
- Phanh xác (v): A synonym meaning to tear the body apart; to dismember.
Synonyms
- To dismember: To cut or tear the limbs from a body.
- To tear apart: To pull something violently into pieces.
- To quarter: Specifically, to divide a body into four parts.
Related Idioms
- Thề phanh thây: To swear an oath of extreme vengeance.
- Kẻ thù giết cha nó, nó thề phanh thây chúng. (The enemy killed his father; he swore to tear them limb from limb.)
verb
-
to quarter
noun
-
brake. phanh tay hand brake