trơ mép
Definition
- Adjective (informal):
- To be left empty-handed or unsuccessful: Describes the state of having failed to obtain what one sought, often after effort or expectation, resulting in having nothing.
- To be speechless or at a loss for words: Describes a state of being unable to respond, typically due to surprise, embarrassment, or defeat in an argument.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Đi câu cả ngày mà về trơ mép. (Went fishing all day and came back empty-handed.)
- Nó bị bác bỏ hết lý lẽ, đứng trơ mép ra đó. (All his arguments were refuted, and he was left standing there speechless.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase often carries a tone of mild ridicule or commiseration towards the subject who has failed or been rendered silent.
Variants and Related Words
Trắng tay (adj): to be empty-handed, to have lost everything.
- Cậu ấy đánh bạc và ra về trắng tay. (He gambled and left empty-handed.)
Câm nín (v): to be struck dumb, to become silent.
- Cô ấy câm nín trước câu hỏi bất ngờ. (She was struck dumb by the unexpected question.)
Synonyms
- Empty-handed: having acquired nothing.
- Speechless: unable to speak, often due to strong emotion.
- Unsuccessful: not achieving a desired goal.
Related Idioms
Trơ mắt ếch: to be left staring helplessly or in astonishment.
- Hắn chỉ biết trơ mắt ếch nhìn đối thủ thắng cuộc. (He could only stare like a frog, watching his opponent win.)
Hổng chân: to be caught off guard or to have no retort (in Southern Vietnamese dialect).
- Câu hỏi đó làm nó hổng chân, đứng trơ mép. (That question caught him off guard, leaving him speechless.)