trừng trộ
Definition
- Verb:
- To glare / to glower: To stare with wide-open eyes in a manner that expresses anger, fury, or severe disapproval. It conveys a threatening or menacing look.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Anh ta trừng trộ nhìn kẻ đã phản bội mình. (He glared at the person who betrayed him.)
- Đừng có trừng trộ với tôi như thế! (Don't you glower at me like that!)
- Cô giáo trừng trộ khi học sinh nói chuyện riêng. (The teacher glared when the students were talking privately.)
Advanced Usage
- The word "trừng trộ" is almost exclusively used to describe a very specific, intense, and angry facial expression focused in the eyes. It implies a silent but potent communication of rage or warning.
Variants and Related Words
- Trừng mắt (v): to glare (a slightly more common variant with similar meaning).
- Ông ấy trừng mắt nhìn đứa trẻ nghịch ngợm. (He glared at the mischievous child.)
Synonyms
- To glare: To stare fiercely or angrily.
- To glower: To look or stare with sullen anger or irritation.
- To scowl: To frown in an angry or bad-tempered way (similar, but more focused on the entire forehead and brow).
Related Idioms
- Nổi trận lôi đình: To fly into a rage (this describes the accompanying action, while often describes the look that precedes or accompanies it).
- Ông chủ trừng trộ rồi nổi trận lôi đình. (The boss glared and then flew into a towering rage.)