Definition

1. Noun:
   • A distracting drumbeat: A drum rhythm played to cover up or drown out something else, such as an awkward silence, an embarrassing topic, or another sound.
   • A diversionary tactic: An action, often noisy or showy, intended to distract attention from a problem, mistake, or uncomfortable truth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Khi bị hỏi về vụ bê bối, ông ấy nói lan man như đánh trống lấp. (When asked about the scandal, he spoke vaguely like beating a distracting drum.)
  • Những lời khen ngợi đó chỉ là trống lấp để chúng ta quên đi thất bại thực sự. (That praise is just a diversionary tactic to make us forget the real failure.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is almost exclusively used in the figurative idiom "đánh trống lấp" (to beat a distracting drum), meaning to create a diversion or to talk around a subject to avoid addressing it directly.
  • Anh ta đánh trống lấp bằng cách đổi chủ đề. (He created a diversion by changing the subject.)

Variants and Related Words

• Đánh trống lấp (idiomatic verb phrase): To evade, to dodge an issue, to cover up an awkward moment with distracting talk or action.

Synonyms

• Diversion: Something intended to distract attention.
• Smokescreen: An action or statement used to conceal one's real intentions or activities.
• Evasion: The act of avoiding something, especially a direct answer.

Related Idioms

• Đánh trống lấp: To beat a distracting drum; to use a diversionary tactic.
  • Đừng đánh trống lấp nữa, hãy trả lời câu hỏi trực tiếp đi. (Stop beating around the bush, answer the question directly.)