Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To do something without regard for someone's presence or authority; to bypass or ignore someone (when doing something): This phrase describes the action of proceeding with an action while disregarding, circumventing, or not seeking the approval of a person who is present, has authority, or should normally be considered.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Nó dám qua mặt sếp để ký hợp đồng. (He dared to bypass the boss to sign the contract.)
  • Đừng qua mặt tôi trong chuyện này. (Don't ignore me in this matter.)
  • Cô ấy cảm thấy bị xúc phạm khi bị đồng nghiệp qua mặt trong cuộc họp. (She felt offended when her colleague ignored her during the meeting.)

Advanced Usage

• "qua mặt ai đó mà làm gì": to do something while bypassing/ignoring someone.

  • Hắn ta thường qua mặt cấp trên mà quyết định. (He often makes decisions while bypassing his superiors.)

• "bị qua mặt": to be bypassed, to be ignored (passive form).

  • Giám đốc cũ rất tức giận vì bị qua mặt trong vụ mua bán công ty. (The former director was very angry because he was bypassed in the company sale.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vượt mặt (verb phrase): to surpass, to outdo someone (often in a competitive sense, but can imply ignoring in some contexts). This is a close synonym but can carry a stronger connotation of overtaking.

  • Anh ấy luôn tìm cách vượt mặt đối thủ. (He always looks for ways to outdo his rival.)

• Bỏ qua (verb): to overlook, to let something pass. This is a more general term for ignoring a matter or mistake, not specifically a person's authority.

  • Xin hãy bỏ qua cho lỗi lầm của tôi. (Please overlook my mistake.)

Synonyms

• Ignore (someone's authority): bỏ qua (quyền hạn của ai).
• Bypass (someone): đi vòng qua (ai đó), không thông qua.
• Circumvent: lảng tránh, tìm cách vượt qua (một quy tắc hay người có thẩm quyền).

Related Phrases

• Làm sau lưng ai đó: to do something behind someone's back. This phrase is very similar in meaning but emphasizes secrecy.

  • Họ thỏa thuận làm ăn sau lưng đối tác. (They made a business deal behind their partner's back.)

• Tự ý hành động: to act on one's own initiative/without permission. This focuses on the unilateral action rather than the act of ignoring a specific person.

  • Nhân viên đó bị khiển trách vì tự ý hành động. (That employee was reprimanded for acting without permission.)

Related Idioms

• "Qua cầu rút ván": to burn one's bridges; to abandon or forget someone after achieving one's goal through them. This idiom describes ingratitude and abandonment, which can be a result of "qua mặt".

  • Hắn là kẻ qua cầu rút ván, đừng tin. (He is someone who burns his bridges, don't trust him.)

• "Trên bảo dưới không nghe": orders from above are not heeded by those below. This describes a situation of disobedience or being ignored within a hierarchy.

  • Công ty đang trong tình trạng trên bảo dưới không nghe. (The company is in a state where orders from above are not heeded.)

1. Ignore (somebody) (when doing something)