Definition

1. Noun:

   • Float, buoy: An object that is lightweight or filled with air, designed to stay on the surface of water to indicate a position, support a fishing line, or aid in floating.
   • Lifebuoy, life preserver: A ring or jacket-shaped float used for saving people from drowning.
   • Crib sheet, cheat sheet: (slang) Secret notes or materials smuggled into an exam to cheat.

2. Verb:

   • To spread, to circulate (rumors or news): To deliberately disseminate information, often false or unverified.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Đứa trẻ mặc áo phao khi bơi. (The child wears a life jacket when swimming.)
  • Cần câu có cái phao màu đỏ. (The fishing rod has a red float.)
  • Giám thị phát hiện thí sinh giấu phao trong túi. (The proctor discovered a student hiding a cheat sheet in their pocket.)

• Verb:

  • Kẻ xấu đang phao tin đồn thất thiệt. (Bad actors are spreading malicious rumors.)

Advanced Usage

• "Phao cấu cứu" / "phao cứu sinh": lifebuoy, life ring.

  • Tàu được trang bị nhiều phao cấu cứu. (The ship is equipped with many lifebuoys.)

• "Phao tin": to spread news/rumors (often used in a negative sense).

  • Họ phao tin công ty sắp phá sản. (They spread the news that the company is about to go bankrupt.)

Variants and Related Words

• Áo phao (n): life jacket, personal flotation device.

  • Luật quy định phải mặc áo phao trên thuyền. (The law requires wearing a life jacket on the boat.)

• Phao bơi (n): swimming float (e.g., arm bands, pool noodle).

  • Trẻ em dùng phao bơi để tập bơi. (Children use swimming floats to learn how to swim.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Buoy, float, life preserver, crib note.
• Verb: Circulate, disseminate, rumor.

Related Idioms

• Nổi như phao: To float like a cork; to overcome difficulties easily or to have a sudden rise in fortune.

  • Sau khó khăn, công việc của anh ấy nổi như phao. (After the difficulties, his career took off effortlessly.)

• Bám phao: To cling to a float; to rely heavily on someone or something for support or success.

  • Cậu ấy bám phao bạn để qua môn. (He clung to his friend to pass the class.)

noun

1. float, buoy
   • phao cấu cứu
     life buoy