rêu rao
Definition
- Verb:
- To spread (news, rumors, often negative) publicly and widely: To talk about something, typically private or damaging information, openly and repeatedly to many people, often with malicious intent.
- To badmouth; to speak ill of: To divulge negative information about someone or something in a way that damages their reputation.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hắn ta đi rêu rao tin đồn khắp nơi. (He went around spreading the rumor everywhere.)
- Đừng rêu rao chuyện gia đình tôi. (Don't go publicizing my family's business.)
- Câu chuyện bị rêu rao trên mạng xã hội. (The story was spread all over social media.)
Advanced Usage
- The verb often implies a deliberate, active, and sometimes relentless effort to make certain information known to a broad audience, usually causing embarrassment or harm.
- It carries a strong negative connotation, suggesting gossip, slander, or the airing of dirty laundry.
Variants and Related Words
- Loan spread word: While not a direct variant, "loan truyền" (to disseminate) is a more neutral term for spreading information, lacking the negative intent of "rêu rao."
Synonyms
- To broadcast (negatively): To make widely known.
- To publicize (in a damaging way): To draw public attention to something, often shameful.
- To gossip (maliciously): To talk about others' private lives.
- To divulge (improperly): To reveal private information.
Related Idioms
- Rêu rao khắp làng: To spread news throughout the village; a classic idiom meaning to make something known to everyone in a community.
- Chuyện nhỏ bị rêu rao khắp làng. (A small matter was broadcast to the entire village.)
verb
-
to speak ill of; to divulge
