Definition

1. Verb:
   • To set free; to release: To allow someone or something to move or act without restraint, no longer holding them in one place.
   • To let out; to cast: To put something into a suitable environment (like water or air) so it can move, operate, or grow.
   • To drop; to lower down: To let something fall or descend vertically, often with a specific purpose.
   • (Vulgar/Slang) To fork out; to shell out: To spend or disburse money, often reluctantly or for bribery.

Usage Examples

• To set free; to release:
  • Cảnh sát đã thả người bị bắt vì không có đủ chứng cớ. (The police released the detainee due to insufficient evidence.)
  • Anh ấy thả con chim đã chữa lành trở lại bầu trời. (He set the healed bird free back into the sky.)
• To let out; to cast:
  • Mỗi sáng, bà tôi thả gà ra khỏi chuồng. (Every morning, my grandmother lets the chickens out of the coop.)
  • Ngư dân thả lưới xuống biển. (The fisherman casts his net into the sea.)
• To drop; to lower down:
  • Máy bay thả bom xuống mục tiêu. (The plane dropped bombs on the target.)
  • Cô ấy thả rèm cửa sổ xuống. (She lowered the window blinds.)
• (Slang) To fork out:
  • Hắn phải thả một đống tiền để mua chuộc viên chức đó. (He had to fork out a pile of money to bribe that official.)

Advanced Usage

• "thả mình": To let oneself go; to abandon oneself (to something).
  • Anh ấy thả mình theo dòng nhạc. (He let himself go with the flow of the music.)
• "thả neo": To drop anchor.
  • Con tàu thả neo trong vịnh. (The ship dropped anchor in the bay.)
• "thả diều": To fly a kite.
  • Trẻ con thích thả diều trên cánh đồng. (Children love flying kites in the field.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thả lỏng (verb phrase): To loosen; to relax control.
  • Huấn luyện viên thả lỏng các cầu thủ trước trận đấu quan trọng. (The coach loosened up the players before the important match.)
• Thả phanh (verb phrase): To brake suddenly; (figuratively) to act without restraint.
  • Cô ấy thả phanh mua sắm trong ngày Black Friday. (She went on a shopping spree on Black Friday.)

Synonyms

• Phóng thích (verb): To release, to liberate (often formal, for prisoners).
• Buông (verb): To let go, to release one's grip.
• Ném (verb): To throw (implies more force than ).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Thả ra: To let out, to release.
  • Đừng thả chó ra ngoài một mình. (Don't let the dog out alone.)
• Thả xuống: To lower down, to drop down.
  • Họ thả thùng hàng xuống từ tầng trên. (They lowered the cargo crate down from the upper floor.)

Related Idioms

• "Thả con săn sắt, bắt con cá rô": Literally "to release an iron hook to catch a perch fish". Means to make a small investment/effort hoping for a much larger gain. Similar to "Give an egg to get an ox."
  • Đó là chiến lược thả con săn sắt, bắt con cá rô của họ. (That's their strategy of making a small investment for a big return.)
• "Thả mồi bắt bóng": Literally "to release the prey to catch the shadow". Means to give up a certain gain for an uncertain hope; to chase after illusions.
  • Đừng có thả mồi bắt bóng như thế. (Don't give up the substance for the shadow like that.)

verb

1. to set free
2. to release
3. to let out
4. to cast
5. to drop
6. to lower down
7. to give more play
8. to to breed (grow in water)
9. to fly
10. to fork out