phủi tay
Definition
- Verb (colloquial):
- To wash one's hands of something: To disclaim responsibility for a matter; to refuse to be involved or accountable any longer.
- To dismiss or brush off: To treat something as unimportant or to get rid of an obligation with a casual gesture.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Sau khi dự án thất bại, ông ấy phủi tay, bảo không liên quan. (After the project failed, he washed his hands of it, saying he wasn't involved.)
- Đừng có phủi tay trách nhiệm như vậy. (Don't just brush off your responsibility like that.)
- Cô ấy phủi tay mọi lời chỉ trích. (She dismissed all criticism.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase "phủi tay" is often used in a figurative and negative sense, implying an irresponsible or negligent attitude. The action of literally dusting off one's hands symbolizes making oneself clean of a troublesome issue.
Variants and Related Words
Từ bỏ trách nhiệm (v): to abandon responsibility.
- Công ty đã từ bỏ trách nhiệm với sản phẩm lỗi. (The company abandoned responsibility for the defective product.)
Phủ nhận (v): to deny.
- Anh ta phủ nhận mọi cáo buộc. (He denied all accusations.)
Synonyms
- Disclaim: To deny responsibility for or connection with.
- Renounce: To formally declare one's abandonment of something.
- Shirk: To avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility.
Related Idioms
Làm ngơ: to turn a blind eye; to pretend not to see.
- Anh ta làm ngơ trước những khó khăn của đồng nghiệp. (He turned a blind eye to his colleague's difficulties.)
Qua cầu rút ván: to burn one's bridges; to abandon someone after achieving one's goal.
- Đừng tin hắn, hắn là kẻ hay qua cầu rút ván. (Don't trust him; he's the type who burns his bridges.)