tóe loe
Definition
- Adjective:
- Splattered, splashed, or sprayed widely and messily: Describes a liquid, semi-liquid, or fine particulate substance that has been scattered, dispersed, or ejected over a broad area, often in an uncontrolled, untidy, or forceful manner. It emphasizes the resulting state of being spread out messily.
- Flared, splayed out: Can describe something that is spread out or opened widely in a disordered, untidy shape, like the frayed end of a rope or a flared skirt.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Sau khi xe tải lội qua vũng nước, bùn tóe loe khắp lề đường. (After the truck plowed through the puddle, mud was splattered all over the sidewalk.)
- Áo nó ướt tóe loe vì bị té xuống ao. (His shirt was wet and splashed all over because he fell into the pond.)
- Đuôi váy của cô ấy rộng và tóe loe ra. (The hem of her skirt is wide and flared out.)
Advanced Usage
- Often used to intensify the visual of a messy, widespread spill or splash. It carries a connotation of disorder and lack of containment.
- Can be used metaphorically to describe non-physical things that are scattered or spread out in a disorderly fashion, though this is less common.
- Tin đồn tóe loe khắp nơi. (Rumors spread messily everywhere.)
Variants and Related Words
- Tóe (v): to splash, to spurt. A simpler, more common verb describing the action of liquid scattering.
- Nước tóe lên mặt tôi. (Water splashed onto my face.)
- Bắn tóe (v): to splash or splatter (often with more force).
- Mưa bắn tóe vào cửa sổ. (The rain splattered against the window.)
Synonyms
- Splattered: covered with scattered drops or streaks.
- Spattered: similar to splattered, often with smaller drops.
- Messily dispersed: spread out in an untidy way.
Related Idioms
- Nói tóe tóe loe loe / Nói tóe loe: to talk loudly, excitedly, and at length, often in a scattered or nonsensical way. This idiom extends the meaning of disorderly spreading to speech.
- Đừng có nói tóe loe ở đây. (Don't talk loudly and nonsensically here.)