táng đởm
Definition
- Verb:
- To be extremely frightened; to be scared out of one's wits: This idiom describes a state of intense fear or terror, so severe it is humorously said to cause one's gallbladder to rupture.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Nghe tiếng nổ, nó táng đởm bỏ chạy. (Hearing the explosion, he was scared out of his wits and ran away.)
- Cảnh phim kinh dị đó khiến tôi suýt táng đởm. (That horror movie scene almost scared me to death.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is almost exclusively used in its idiomatic form. It is a vivid, hyperbolic expression for fear.
Variants and Related Words
- Hồn xiêu phách lạc: This is a closely related idiom meaning "to be scared out of one's wits" or "to be terrified," with a similar intensity.
Synonyms
- To be terrified: To be filled with overwhelming fear.
- To be scared stiff: To be so frightened one cannot move.
- To be frightened out of one's wits: To be extremely scared.
Related Idioms
- Táng đởm kinh hồn: A reinforced version of the idiom, adding "kinh hồn" (startle the soul) for even greater emphasis on extreme fright.
- Bóng đen trong đêm khiến nó táng đởm kinh hồn. (The shadow in the night scared him out of his wits.)