tắt ngóm
Definition
- Adjective (Informal):
- Completely extinguished / utterly out: Describes a state where a fire, light, or flame has died out completely, leaving no embers or glow. It emphasizes a final, total absence of light or heat from burning.
- Figuratively dead / completely finished: Used colloquially to describe something that has ended totally, lost all energy, or ceased to exist, such as an idea, a plan, or enthusiasm.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Ngọn nến đã tắt ngóm từ lâu. (The candle has been completely out for a long time.)
- Sau trận mưa, đống lửa trại tắt ngóm. (After the rain, the campfire was utterly extinguished.)
- Hy vọng của họ đã tắt ngóm sau thất bại đó. (Their hope was completely snuffed out after that failure.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is informal and vivid, often used for dramatic effect to stress totality. It is more emphatic than just "tắt" (off/out).
Variants and Related Words
Tắt (v): to turn off, to extinguish.
- Hãy tắt đèn khi rời phòng. (Please turn off the light when leaving the room.)
Tắt lịm (adj): to be extinguished silently or suddenly; to die out.
- Âm thanh tắt lịm trong đêm. (The sound died out in the night.)
Synonyms
- Extinguished: having a fire or light put out.
- Snuffed out: ended or extinguished completely.
- Dead out: (informal) completely extinguished, with no chance of rekindling.
Related Idioms
- While "tắt ngóm" itself is idiomatic, it can be part of descriptive phrases emphasizing an absolute end.
- Cuộc sống nơi đó tắt ngóm mọi niềm vui. (Life there snuffed out all joy.)