tá gà
Definition
Noun (Colloquial, dated):
- The act of doing someone else's academic work for them: This term specifically refers to secretly writing a composition, essay, or homework assignment on behalf of another person, usually for payment or as a favor. It implies academic dishonesty.
- A person who does such work: It can also refer to the individual who performs this service.
Verb (Colloquial, dated):
- To ghostwrite academic work for someone else: The action of completing another student's assigned written work.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- Hắn ta nổi tiếng là một tay tá gà trong lớp. (He was notorious as a ghostwriter in the class.)
- Việc thuê tá gà là gian lận. (Hiring someone to do your work is cheating.)
Verb:
- Nó đã tá gà bài luận cho bạn nó. (He ghostwrote the essay for his friend.)
- Sinh viên đó bị đuổi học vì tá gà. (That student was expelled for ghostwriting.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is considered slang and is now quite dated. Modern equivalents would be "ghostwriter" (for hire) or simply describing the act as "làm bài hộ" (to do work for someone) in an academic cheating context.
- It carries a strong negative connotation of deception and violating academic integrity.
Variants and Related Words
- Gà (noun, in this context): A shortening of "tá gà," also meaning a ghostwriter or the act itself.
- Làm bài hộ (verb phrase): To do homework/assignments for someone (a more general, modern phrase).
- Gian lận học thuật (noun phrase): Academic dishonesty.
Synonyms
- Ghostwrite (for pay): To write for and in the name of another person.
- Cheat (academically): To act dishonestly to gain an academic advantage.
Related Idioms
- Chép bài: To copy work (from someone else or a source). This is different as "tá gà" involves original creation on behalf of another.
- Học thuê, thi hộ: To study or take an exam for someone else (related concepts of academic fraud).