Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Distorted; twisted; contorted: Describes something, typically a facial expression or physical form, that is bent or twisted out of its normal shape, often due to pain, anger, or another strong emotion.
   • Underhanded; fishy; dubious; dishonest: Describes a situation, behavior, or person that seems suspicious, not straightforward, or morally crooked.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Physical Distortion):

  • Mặt anh ấy quẹo cọ vì tức giận. (His face was contorted with anger.)
  • Cơn đau khiến tay chân cô ấy quẹo cọ. (The pain made her limbs twist.)

• Adjective (Suspicious/Dishonest):

  • Vụ làm ăn này nghe có vẻ quẹo cọ. (This business deal sounds fishy.)
  • Đừng tin hắn, tính hắn quẹo cọ lắm. (Don't trust him; his character is very underhanded.)

Advanced Usage

• Used to intensify suspicion: Often implies a stronger, more intuitive sense of wrongness than just "khả nghi" (suspicious).
  • Cứ thấy quẹo cọ trong lòng, tôi quyết định không đầu tư. (Feeling something was really off, I decided not to invest.)

Variants and Related Words

• Quẹo (adj, v): Can mean "bent" or "to turn" (e.g., - turn right). Shares the root idea of deviation from a straight line.
• Cong queo (adj): Crooked, bent (often physically). Less commonly used for moral crookedness.
• Gian xảo (adj): Deceitful, crafty. A more formal synonym for the dishonest aspect.

Synonyms

• Bị biến dạng: Deformed, distorted (for physical meaning).
• Khả nghi: Suspicious.
• Gian trá: Fraudulent, deceitful.
• Không ngay thẳng: Not straightforward, dishonest.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Lòng dạ quẹo cọ: A crooked heart/mind; meaning someone is inherently deceitful.
  • Hắn ta lòng dạ quẹo cọ, chẳng bao giờ nói thật. (He has a crooked heart and never tells the truth.)
• Đường đi quẹo cọ: A twisted path; can refer to a physically winding road or a convoluted, dishonest plan.
  • Kế hoạch của bọn chúng toàn là đường đi quẹo cọ. (Their plans are all convoluted and underhanded.)

1. Distorted; twisted
   • Mặt quẹo cọ vì đau
     Face distorted (twisted) by pain
2. Underlanded, fishy
   • Có gì quẹo cọ đây
     There is something [rather] fishy going on here