phách lạc hồn xiêu

Definition
  1. Idiom:
    • To be scared out of one's wits; to be frightened to the point of losing composure: This idiom describes an extreme state of terror or shock, where one's spirit ("hồn") is said to wander and one's vital soul ("phách") is scattered. It conveys a profound, paralyzing fear.
Usage Examples
  • Idiom:
    • Nghe tiếng nổ, nó sợ đến mức phách lạc hồn xiêu. (Hearing the explosion, he was scared out of his wits.)
    • Cảnh tượng kinh hoàng khiến tôi gần như phách lạc hồn xiêu. (The horrifying scene almost made my soul flee from my body in terror.)
Advanced Usage
  • This idiom is primarily used in literary or dramatic contexts to emphasize an intense emotional reaction, often to sudden danger or a terrifying event. It is not typically used for everyday, minor frights.
Variants and Related Words

  • Hồn xiêu phách lạc: An alternative word order with the same meaning.

    • Tin dữ khiến bà ấy hồn xiêu phách lạc. (The bad news frightened her terribly.)

  • Hồn phi phách tán: The classical Sino-Vietnamese phrase from which "phách lạc hồn xiêu" is derived, meaning "spirit flies, vital soul scatters."

Synonyms
  • Terrified: filled with extreme fear.
  • Petrified: so frightened as to be unable to move.
  • Scared stiff: extremely frightened.
Related Idioms
  • Sợ vãi linh hồn: (Vulgar, slang) to be scared shitless; expresses extreme fear in a crude, colloquial way.
  • Mặt cắt không còn hột máu: (Idiom) to have a face drained of blood; to look extremely pale from fear.

Proverbs and Idioms