Definition

1. Verb:
   • To drop (something) accidentally, to let slip from one's hand(s): The primary meaning refers to the unintentional action of dropping an object, typically due to a momentary lapse in attention or a lack of a firm grip.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Tôi sẩy tay làm rơi chiếc điện thoại. (I accidentally dropped my phone.)
  • Cẩn thận đừng để sẩy tay chiếc bình cổ quý giá đó. (Be careful not to drop that valuable antique vase.)
  • Chỉ một chút sơ ý, anh ấy đã sẩy tay làm vỡ ly nước. (With just a little carelessness, he let the glass slip from his hand and break.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb "sẩy tay" inherently implies an accident or mistake. It is not used for intentional acts of throwing or placing something down.
• It often conveys a sense of regret or minor misfortune resulting from the action.
  • Thật tiếc, tôi sẩy tay làm đổ hết món canh. (What a pity, I spilled all the soup by accidentally dropping it.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sẩy chân (verb): To slip (with one's foot), to miss a step. This is a related compound using "sẩy" for a different type of accidental misstep.
  • Đường trơn, cô ấy suýt sẩy chân. (The road was slippery, she almost slipped.)
• Đánh rơi (verb): To drop, to lose (something). This is a very close synonym but can sometimes imply a slightly broader sense of losing an item, not exclusively from the hand.
  • Tôi đánh rơi chìa khóa ở đâu đó. (I dropped/lost my keys somewhere.)

Synonyms

• Làm rơi: To drop (neutral or accidental).
• Đánh rơi: To drop, to lose (as mentioned above).
• Lỡ tay: To do something accidentally with the hand (can be used similarly for dropping, but also for other accidental actions like hitting or pouring too much). "Lỡ tay" often emphasizes the inadvertent nature more than the physical dropping.
  • Tôi lỡ tay đổ nhiều muối quá. (I accidentally poured too much salt.)

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Sẩy tay làm đổ/vỡ: To accidentally drop and spill/break. This is a common collocation describing the consequence.
  • Đứa bé sẩy tay làm đổ sữa. (The child dropped and spilled the milk.)

Related Idioms

• While "sẩy tay" itself is not typically part of a fixed idiom, the concept relates to proverbs about carelessness, such as:
  • "Một sự bất tinh, gây sự bất lành": A single act of carelessness can cause misfortune. This reflects the potential consequence of "sẩy tay".

verb

1. to drop ley attention