phì hơi
Definition
- Verb:
- To deflate / to go flat: The primary meaning of "phì hơi" is to lose air or pressure, typically describing a tire, balloon, or inflatable object becoming flat.
- To lose energy / to fizzle out: In a figurative sense, it can describe a person, plan, or activity losing vitality, enthusiasm, or momentum, becoming deflated.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Lốp xe bị thủng nên đã phì hơi. (The tire was punctured so it went flat.)
- Sau buổi họp dài, tinh thần của cả nhóm phì hơi. (After the long meeting, the team's morale deflated.)
- Quả bóng bay để ngoài nắng đã phì hơi. (The balloon left in the sun has deflated.)
Advanced Usage
- "phì hơi" for abstract concepts: Used to describe the failure or loss of force of an idea or trend.
- Kế hoạch kinh doanh đó nghe hay nhưng nhanh chóng phì hơi. (That business plan sounded good but quickly fizzled out.)
Variants and Related Words
- Xì hơi (v): This is a more common and colloquial synonym for "phì hơi," meaning to deflate or to go flat.
- Bánh xe đạp bị xì hơi. (The bicycle tire is flat.)
Synonyms
- Deflate: to release air or gas from something.
- Go flat: to lose air pressure (for tires).
- Fizzle out: to gradually lose energy and end weakly.
Related Idioms
- Phì hơi như bánh xe thủng: As flat as a punctured tire (emphasizing complete deflation or loss of energy).
- Sau trận thua, cầu thủ trông phì hơi như bánh xe thủng. (After the loss, the player looked as deflated as a flat tire.)