Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Askew, crooked, not straight: Describes something that is tilted, slanted, or twisted out of its normal, straight, or aligned position.
   • Wry, twisted (often regarding body parts): Can describe a part of the body, like a joint, that is twisted or sprained.

2. Verb (colloquial):

   • To miss, to fail to attend (used with "không"): In the negative form "không trẹo," it means not to miss a single instance of something, often an event or meal.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • Cái bàn này chân bị trẹo. (This table's leg is crooked.)
  • Anh ấy bị trẹo cổ tay. (He has a twisted wrist.)
  • Tấm ảnh treo hơi trẹo. (The picture is hanging a bit askew.)

• Verb:

  • Ông ấy không trẹo một buổi họp nào. (He did not miss a single meeting.)

Advanced Usage

• The verb usage is almost exclusively found in the negative construction "không trẹo" + (một) + [event/occasion] to emphasize consistent attendance or consumption.
  • Nó không trẹo một bữa tiệc sinh nhật nào của bạn. (He doesn't miss a single one of his friend's birthday parties.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trật trẹo (adj): Emphasizes a state of being badly misaligned, dislocated, or fundamentally incorrect.

  • Lập luận của anh ta hoàn toàn trật trẹo. (His reasoning is completely twisted/wrong.)

• Trẹo chân (v/n): To sprain one's ankle/foot; a foot sprain.

  • Cô ấy bị trẹo chân khi đi giày cao gót. (She sprained her ankle while wearing high heels.)

Synonyms

• Askew/Crooked: lệch, xiên.
• Twisted/Sprained: bong gân, trật khớp.
• To miss (verb): vắng mặt, bỏ lỡ.

Related Idioms

• Nói trẹo lưỡi: To speak in a twisted or misleading way; to be tongue-tied or to distort words.

  • Đừng có nói trẹo lưỡi, hãy nói sự thật. (Don't twist your words; tell the truth.)

• Trẹo cổ, trẹo họng (vulgar): An impolite expression meaning "to die" or "to kick the bucket," implying a twisted neck.

  • Tên cướp ấy sớm muộn gì cũng trẹo cổ. (That robber will kick the bucket sooner or later.)

adj

1. askew, twisted, wry