tới số
Definition
- Idiom (verb phrase):
- To be at the end of one's life; to be about to die; to be doomed. This phrase describes a situation where a person or entity's fate is sealed, and death or complete failure is imminent and unavoidable. It carries a strong fatalistic connotation.
- To be finished; to be done for. It can be used more broadly, though still severely, to indicate that something (e.g., a plan, an organization) is on the verge of catastrophic and irreversible collapse.
Usage Examples
- Idiom:
- Tên cướp bị cảnh sát bao vây, hắn đã tới số rồi. (The robber was surrounded by the police; he is finished now.)
- Bác sĩ nói ông cụ đã tới số. (The doctor said the old man has reached his end.)
- Chế độ độc tài đó sắp tới số. (That dictatorship is about to collapse.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in a definitive, declarative manner ("đã tới số" - has reached its doom) to emphasize that the outcome is certain and no escape is possible.
- It is frequently employed in narratives about criminals, enemies, or terminally ill individuals to underscore their inevitable fate.
Variants and Related Words
- Hết số (idiom): to have one's life run out; to be out of luck/time. A closely related synonym with a similar fatalistic meaning.
- Tận số (idiom): to meet one's end; for one's destined lifespan to be exhausted. A more literary synonym.
Synonyms
- To be doomed: destined to fail or suffer death.
- To be at death's door: very close to dying.
- To be finished: to be completely defeated or destroyed.
Related Idioms
- Đường cùng: the end of the road; a dead end with no way out. This describes a desperate situation, while "tới số" emphasizes the final, fatal consequence of that situation.
- Hết thời: past one's prime; one's time is up. This refers to a decline in fortune or relevance, whereas "tới số" implies a definitive end.