Definition

1. Verb:
   • To drop in / to stop by: To make a brief, unplanned visit to a place while on the way to another destination.
   • To turn / to swerve: To change direction suddenly, especially while moving.
   • To splash / to lash: For a liquid (like rain) or a force (like wind) to hit or strike something at an angle.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Trên đường về, tôi tạt vào tiệm tạp hóa. (On the way home, I dropped into the grocery store.)
  • Xe ô tô tạt sang phải đột ngột. (The car swerved to the right suddenly.)
  • Mưa to tạt qua cửa sổ. (The heavy rain lashed against the window.)

Advanced Usage

• "tạt qua": to swing by, to pop in. Emphasizes a very brief visit.

  • Tôi chỉ định tạt qua chào hỏi một chút. (I just intended to swing by and say hello for a moment.)

• "tạt ngang": to turn sideways into. Often used for vehicles turning into a side street or alley.

  • Anh tài xế tạt ngang vào một con hẻm nhỏ. (The driver turned sideways into a small alley.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tạt vào (v): to drop in, to turn into. A common phrasal form.
  • Chúng ta có thể tạt vào quán cà phê này. (We can drop into this coffee shop.)

Synonyms

• Drop in: to visit briefly.
• Swerve: to change direction abruptly.
• Lash: to strike with force (for wind, rain).

Related Idioms

• Tạt tai: to slap someone on the ear/face. A figurative idiom for a sharp rebuke or a literal slap.

  • Nó nói hỗn, bố nó tạt cho một cái. (He talked back, and his father gave him a slap.)

• Gió tạt mưa sa: (lit. wind lashes, rain falls) Describes harsh, slanting wind and rain, often used to depict difficult circumstances.

  • Cuộc đời có lúc gió tạt mưa sa. (Life sometimes has moments of hardship and adversity.)

verb

1. to drop in. to turn. to splash into. to lash against, to whip on (upon)