rỉa lông
Definition
- Verb:
- To preen: The primary meaning of "rỉa lông" is the act of a bird using its beak to clean, arrange, and smooth its feathers. This is essential for feather maintenance, waterproofing, and removing parasites.
- To pick at feathers: This describes the specific action of a bird nibbling or pecking at its own or another bird's plumage.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Con chim đang rỉa lông trên cành cây. (The bird is preening on the tree branch.)
- Những con gà thường rỉa lông sau khi tắm cát. (Chickens often preen their feathers after dust bathing.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost exclusively used for birds and their grooming behavior. It can sometimes be used metaphorically for a person fussing over their appearance with meticulous care, though this is less common.
Variants and Related Words
- Tỉa lông (v): This is a different verb meaning "to trim feathers" or "to prune," often done by someone to the bird, not the bird's own action.
Synonyms
- Preen: to clean and arrange feathers with the beak.
- Groom: to clean and maintain the body (used for animals, including birds).
Related Idioms
- While "rỉa lông" itself is not commonly used in idioms, the act is part of the common phrase "rỉa lông rỉa cánh," which intensifies the meaning, emphasizing thorough and meticulous preening or, figuratively, excessive self-primping.