Definition

1. 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.)