Definition

1. Adjective (Idiomatic):
   • To be mad keen on; to be passionately obsessed with: Describes a state of intense, often irrational, enthusiasm or addiction towards an activity, subject, or pursuit. It implies being so engrossed that one loses a sense of moderation.
   • To be strongly inflamed/excited by: Carries a connotation of being powerfully stirred or aroused by something, similar to a feverish passion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Anh ấy say máu cờ bạc. (He is mad keen on gambling.)
  • Đội bóng chơi say máu và giành chiến thắng. (The team played with a fierce passion and won the victory.)
  • Cô ấy say máu với công việc nghiên cứu. (She is passionately obsessed with her research work.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase often describes a dangerous or all-consuming level of interest, particularly in contexts like gambling, competition, or conflict, where it can imply a reckless fervor.

Variants and Related Words

• Say (v): to be drunk; to be intoxicated.
  • Anh ấy say rượu. (He is drunk.)
• Say sưa (adj): to be engrossed; to be immersed in (often with a more positive connotation than "say máu").
  • Cô ấy say sưa đọc sách. (She is engrossed in reading a book.)

Synonyms

• To be fanatical about
• To be addicted to
• To be feverish with
• To be consumed by

Related Idioms

• Say như điếu đổ: to be dead drunk (literally: drunk as a fallen pipe). This shares the root "say" but refers specifically to alcohol intoxication.
  • Sau bữa tiệc, ông ấy say như điếu đổ. (After the party, he was dead drunk.)

1. Be mad keen on