thấm đòn
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To feel the full force of a blow or punishment: To experience the complete and often painful consequences of a physical hit or a severe reprimand. It implies the impact has sunk in deeply.
- To learn a lesson the hard way: To understand a mistake or a warning through direct, unpleasant experience.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Nó nghịch ngợm và bị phạt, giờ đã thấm đòn rồi. (He was mischievous and got punished; now he has felt the full force of it.)
- Sau trận thua đau đó, đội bóng mới thấm đòn. (After that painful loss, the team finally learned their lesson the hard way.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a connotation that the subject initially ignored warnings or was reckless, and the resulting experience served as a harsh but effective teacher.
Variants and Related Words
- Ngấm đòn: A variant with identical meaning and usage.
- Lần này nó phải ngấm đòn thôi. (This time, he must learn his lesson.)
Synonyms
- To be taught a lesson: To learn from an experience, often an unpleasant one.
- To get a taste of one's own medicine: To experience the same negative treatment one has given to others.
- To feel the sting: To feel the sharp, painful effect of an action or words.
Related Idioms
- Thấm thía: To feel or understand something deeply and profoundly, often a lesson or emotion. While similar, "thấm thía" can be used for positive or profound realizations, whereas "thấm đòn" is specifically for negative, corrective experiences.
- Câu nói của mẹ khiến nó thấm thía. (His mother's words made him reflect deeply.)