trổ trời
Definition
- Adjective (colloquial, often emphatic):
- Extremely mischievous, naughty, or unruly: Used to describe a person, typically a child, whose mischievous behavior is exceptionally excessive or shocking.
- Outrageous, terrible, or infernal: Can describe an action, event, or situation that is shockingly bad, audacious, or beyond normal limits.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Thằng bé tinh nghịch trổ trời. (That boy is infernally mischievous.)
- Nó nghĩ ra trò chơi trổ trời quá! (He thought up an outrageously naughty game!)
- Cái thời tiết trổ trời này! (This infernal/terrible weather!)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used as an exclamation to express shock, disapproval, or exasperation at extreme behavior or a situation.
- Trổ trời! Nó lại làm vỡ cửa sổ nữa rồi! (Good heavens!/Infernal child! He broke the window again!)
Variants and Related Words
- Nghịch ngợm (adj): mischievous, playful (a more standard term without the extreme connotation).
- Quậy phá (v): to act up, to cause trouble.
Synonyms
- Infernal: suggesting extreme annoyance or mischief.
- Outrageous: shockingly bad or excessive.
- Terrible: extremely bad or serious.
Related Idioms
- While "trổ trời" itself is an idiomatic expression, it is sometimes used in similar contexts to:
- Tinh nghịch như quỷ: as mischievous as a devil.
- Nghịch như giặc: as unruly as a bandit.