Definition

1. Verb:
   • To retract; to pull in: To draw a part of the body or an object back into itself or into a main structure.
   • To recede; to be set back: To be positioned further back from a line or surface compared to something else.
   • To sink in; to become mired: To subside or become stuck in a soft substance like mud or mire.
   • To pump; to inject: To force a liquid or substance in or out using a pump, syringe, or similar tool.
   • (Informal) To pilfer; to embezzle: To secretly steal money, especially from a common fund or treasury.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Con rùa thụt đầu vào mai. (The turtle retracts its head into its shell.)
  • Ngôi nhà này xây thụt vào so với mặt đường. (This house is built set back from the road.)
  • Xe bị thụt bánh trong bùn. (The vehicle's wheels sank into the mud.)
  • Bác sĩ cần thụt thuốc cho bệnh nhân. (The doctor needs to administer an enema to the patient.)
  • Hắn bị phát hiện thụt tiền của công ty. (He was caught embezzling company money.)

Advanced Usage

• "thụt thò": to pop in and out; to appear and disappear furtively.

  • Đứa trẻ thụt thò sau cánh cửa. (The child is peeking in and out from behind the door.)

• "thụt két": (slang) to embezzle; to skim money from a fund.

  • Kế toán bị tình nghi thụt két. (The accountant is suspected of embezzlement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thụt lùi (v): to move backward; to regress.

  • Đất nước không thể thụt lùi. (The country cannot move backward.)

• Bơm thụt (n): a pump or syringe used for injection or pumping.

Synonyms

• Retract: to draw back.
• Recede: to move back or away.
• Inject: to force a fluid into something.
• Embezzle: to steal (money) placed in one's trust.

Related Idioms

• Thụt đầu dê: (literally: to retract like a goat's head) to act cowardly or to avoid responsibility.
  • Gặp khó khăn là nó lại thụt đầu dê. (Whenever there's difficulty, he pulls his head in like a goat [avoids it].)

verb

1. to pull back, to recede to pump out; to shoot