Definitions

1. Noun:

   • Claw, talon: A sharp, curved nail on the foot of an animal, especially a bird of prey or a carnivorous mammal like a tiger or cat.
   • Fang: (Less common) Can refer to a long, pointed tooth, especially of a snake.

2. Verb:

   • To stroke, to caress: To move one's hand gently over a surface, often to show affection, smooth something, or remove something.
   • To smooth out, to straighten: To remove wrinkles or creases from fabric or paper by pressing or stroking.
   • To calm, to appease: To soothe or pacify someone's anger or emotions.
   • To add as an afterthought, to tack on: To say or do something, often insincerely or superficially, after the main event, especially to console or placate.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Con mèo giấu vuốt của nó. (The cat hides its claws.)
  • Hổ dùng vuốt để vồ mồi. (Tigers use their claws to catch prey.)

• Verb:

  • Mẹ vuốt tóc tôi. (My mother strokes my hair.)
  • Cô ấy vuốt phẳng chiếc áo. (She smoothed out the shirt.)
  • Anh ấy cố vuốt cơn giận của sếp. (He tried to appease his boss's anger.)
  • Sau khi mắng, ông chủ nói vuốt vài câu. (After scolding, the boss tacked on a few conciliatory words.)

Advanced Usage

• "Vuốt mặt không kịp": To be overwhelmed/scolded so severely that one has no time to react; to describe a thorough scolding or an overwhelming situation.

  • Anh ta bị mắng vuốt mặt không kịp. (He was scolded so severely he had no time to react.)

• "Vuốt râu hùm": Literally "to stroke a tiger's beard"; to dare to provoke or challenge a powerful or dangerous person; to act recklessly.

  • Đối đầu với hắn là vuốt râu hùm. (Confronting him is like stroking a tiger's beard.)

• "Vuốt bụng thở dài": To stroke one's stomach and sigh; to be deeply distressed, sorrowful, or helpless.

  • Nghe tin ấy, ông cụ chỉ biết vuốt bụng thở dài. (Hearing that news, the old man could only stroke his stomach and sigh in despair.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vuốt ve (verb): To caress, to fondle gently and lovingly.

  • Vuốt ve con mèo. (To pet the cat.)

• Vuốt đuôi (verb): The original form meaning "to add a tail"; to add concluding, often insincere, remarks (e.g., to console after criticism). "Nói vuốt" is a shortened form of this.

  • Lời vuốt đuôi của anh ta chẳng an ủi được ai. (His consolatory afterwords didn't comfort anyone.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Móng (claw/nail - more general), nanh (fang).
• Verb (to stroke): Xoa, mơn trớn.
• Verb (to smooth): Là (to iron), ủi.
• Verb (to calm): Dỗ, xoa dịu.

Related Phrases (Idioms/Collocations)

• "Vuốt mặt chẳng nể mũi": Literally "to stroke/slap the face without regard for the nose"; to treat someone harshly without any consideration for their feelings or their family/associates.

  • Ông ta phê bình vuốt mặt chẳng nể mũi. (He criticized without holding back any punches.)

• "Vuốt râu": To stroke one's beard (a thoughtful or scheming gesture).

  • Ông già vuốt râu suy nghĩ. (The old man stroked his beard in thought.)

noun

1. claws