Definition

1. Adjective phrase:
   • To be free from trouble, to be rid of a nuisance: "Rảnh nợ" describes the state of being relieved or freed from a persistent annoyance, burden, or troublesome person/thing. It implies a sense of liberation after getting rid of a source of irritation.
   • To be a good riddance: It conveys the feeling of relief when something or someone undesirable is gone.

Usage Examples

• Adjective phrase:
  • Con chó hay sủa đêm, cho đi cho rảnh nợ. (That dog barks all night; give it away to be rid of the trouble.)
  • Cái máy tính hỏng này mãi mới sửa xong, giờ thì rảnh nợ rồi. (This broken computer finally got fixed; now I'm free from the hassle.)
  • Anh ta cứ gọi điện làm phiền, phải chặn số để rảnh nợ. (He kept calling to bother me; I had to block his number to be rid of the nuisance.)

Advanced Usage

• "cho/để được rảnh nợ": (in order) to be free from trouble, for the sake of peace.
  • Tôi phải trả hết số tiền đó để được rảnh nợ. (I have to pay off that amount to be free from the burden.)
• The phrase often carries a slightly informal or colloquial tone, expressing personal relief rather than formal resolution.

Variants and Related Words

• Rảnh (adj): free, not busy.
  • Hôm nay tôi rảnh. (I am free today.)
• Nợ (n): debt.
  • Trả nợ ngân hàng. (To pay a bank debt.)
• Thoát nợ (v): to be out of debt, to settle a debt (more literal, often financial).
  • Cuối cùng công ty cũng thoát nợ. (The company is finally out of debt.)

Synonyms

• Thoát khỏi phiền phức: to get rid of trouble.
• Hết nợ (literally: debt is finished; can be used figuratively similar to "rảnh nợ").
• Yên thân: to have peace (to be left in peace).

Related Idioms/Phrases

• Trút được gánh nặng: to cast off a burden (similar sense of relief).
  • Khi đứa con hư ra ở riêng, bà ấy như trút được gánh nặng. (When her troublesome child moved out, she felt as if a burden was lifted.)
• Cất được cục tức: (informal) to relieve pent-up frustration/anger (shares the emotional relief aspect).
  • Nói ra cho hết chuyện là cất được cục tức. (Speaking your mind to settle the matter relieves your frustration.)

1. End one's trouble, be a good riddance
   • Con chó hay sủa đêm, cho đi cho rảnh nợ
     To give away a dog which barks at night as a good riddance