Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To glare / to stare with wide-open eyes: To open one's eyes very wide, typically in a fixed and intense manner, to express strong negative emotions such as anger, threat, defiance, or extreme surprise.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Anh ta trợn trừng mắt nhìn kẻ địch. (He glared at the enemy with wide-open eyes.)
  • Đừng có trợn trừng mắt với tôi! (Don't you glare at me like that!)
  • Cô ấy trợn trừng vì kinh ngạc. (She stared wide-eyed in astonishment.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase "trợn trừng trợn tráo" (or "trợn trừng trợn trạc") is a common reduplicative form used for emphasis, intensifying the meaning of staring brazenly, defiantly, or shamelessly.
  • Nó nói dối mà mặt cứ trợn trừng trợn tráo. (He told a lie while staring brazenly/unflinchingly.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trợn mắt (verb phrase): to bulge/open one's eyes wide (a more general term, can be used for surprise or anger).

  • Cô ấy trợn mắt vì ngạc nhiên. (She opened her eyes wide in surprise.)

• Trừng mắt (verb phrase): to fix someone with a stern, severe, or warning stare.

  • Ông chủ trừng mắt nhìn nhân viên. (The boss fixed the employee with a stern stare.)

Synonyms

• Glare: to stare in an angry or fierce way.
• Stare fixedly: to look directly and steadily with wide eyes.
• Goggle: to stare with wide or protuberant eyes, often due to amazement.

Related Idioms

• Trợn mắt trợn mũi: An idiom describing a fierce, aggressive, and challenging facial expression, often seen in conflicts.
  • Hai bên trợn mắt trợn mũi, sắp đánh nhau. (The two sides were glaring fiercely at each other, about to fight.)