Definition

Verb Phrase: - To withdraw in haste / to retreat hastily: A compound verb describing the act of pulling back or withdrawing from a position, typically in a military or confrontational context, in a hurried and often disorderly manner to escape danger or a stronger force. It combines the ideas of strategic withdrawal ("rút") and fleeing ("chạy").

Usage Examples

• Verb Phrase:
  • Quân địch đã rút chạy khỏi thành phố. (The enemy troops withdrew in haste from the city.)
  • Thấy cảnh sát đến, bọn cướp vội vàng rút chạy. (Seeing the police arrive, the robbers hastily retreated.)
  • Sau trận đánh thất bại, họ buộc phải rút chạy về căn cứ. (After the failed battle, they were forced to retreat hastily to their base.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often implies a loss of control or a disorganized retreat, rather than a planned, orderly withdrawal. It is frequently used in historical or news contexts to describe military defeats.
• It can be applied metaphorically to non-military situations where someone abandons a plan, argument, or position quickly under pressure.
  • Khi bị chất vấn, anh ta đã rút chạy khỏi cuộc tranh luận. (When questioned, he beat a hasty retreat from the debate.)

Variants and Related Words

• Rút lui (v): To withdraw, to retreat. This is a more neutral term without the strong connotation of fleeing.
  • Tướng lĩnh ra lệnh cho quân đội rút lui. (The general ordered the army to withdraw.)
• Tháo chạy (v): To flee, to run away. This emphasizes the fleeing aspect more than the strategic withdrawal.
  • Mọi người tháo chạy khi tòa nhà bắt đầu đổ sập. (People fled when the building began to collapse.)

Synonyms

• To beat a hasty retreat: To withdraw quickly, especially to avoid trouble.
• To flee: To run away from danger.
• To pull out hastily: To remove oneself or one's forces quickly.

Related Idioms

• While "rút chạy" itself is a set phrase, it is central to describing scenarios of disorderly retreat. A related concept is:
  • Chạy dài: To flee over a long distance; to be routed.

    • Trận đánh khiến quân địch chạy dài. (The battle caused the enemy forces to be routed.)

1. Withdraw and take [to] flight