thừa thế
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To take advantage of a favorable situation or superior position: To exploit a moment of advantage, momentum, or a dominant position to act decisively, often used in strategic, competitive, or confrontational contexts.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sau trận mưa lớn, quân ta thừa thế tấn công và chiếm được đồn địch. (After the heavy rain, our troops, taking advantage of the situation, attacked and captured the enemy post.)
- Đội nhà ghi bàn, rồi thừa thế áp đảo hoàn toàn trận đấu. (The home team scored a goal and then, riding the momentum, completely dominated the match.)
- Không nên thừa thế người khác mà bắt nạt họ. (One should not use one's superior position to bully others.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often implies a strategic, opportunistic action following an initial success or shift in circumstances. It carries a connotation of pressing one's advantage, sometimes aggressively.
Variants and Related Words
- Thừa thắng (verb phrase): To follow up on a victory; to press an advantage after a win.
- Sau trận thắng nhỏ, tướng quân ra lệnh thừa thắng truy kích. (After the minor victory, the general ordered to press the advantage and pursue.)
Synonyms
- To capitalize on: To gain a further advantage from an existing favorable condition.
- To exploit the situation: To use circumstances for one's benefit.
- To ride the momentum: To continue acting with the energy and advantage gained from prior success.
Related Idioms
- Thừa nước đục thả câu: Literally "to cast a fishing line in troubled waters"; to take advantage of a chaotic or confused situation for personal gain. This idiom shares the opportunistic core meaning but is used in more negative, self-serving contexts.
- Hắn ta luôn biết cách thừa nước đục thả câu để kiếm lợi. (He always knows how to fish in troubled waters to profit.)