trợn trừng
Definition
- 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.)