vớt vát
Definition
- Verb:
- To salvage / to recover: To retrieve or save a small, remaining part of something that has been largely lost, damaged, or wasted.
- To make do with leftovers / to settle for scraps: To accept or manage with the little that remains after the main part is gone, often implying a diminished or unsatisfactory outcome.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Nhà cháy sạch, chỉ vớt vát được ít quần áo. (The house burned down completely; they could only salvage a few clothes.)
- Chợ đã vãn, chị ta chỉ mua vớt vát được ít rau. (The market was almost over; she could only buy a few leftover vegetables.)
- Dự án thất bại, chúng tôi cố gắng vớt vát một số dữ liệu. (The project failed; we tried to salvage some data.)
Advanced Usage
- "nói vớt vát": To add a few words (often hastily or as an afterthought).
- Anh ấy nói vớt vát vài câu trước khi kết thúc cuộc họp. (He added a few words before ending the meeting.)
Variants and Related Words
- Vớt (v): to scoop up, to salvage from water. This is the root verb, while "vớt vát" emphasizes salvaging from a general loss.
- Vớt lá rơi trong hồ bơi. (To scoop up fallen leaves in the swimming pool.)
Synonyms
- Salvage: To rescue or save something from loss.
- Recover: To get back something partially lost.
- Scrape together: To gather with difficulty from what little remains.
- Retrieve: To regain possession of.
Related Idioms and Phrases
Làm vớt vát: To do something in a last-ditch effort to save a situation.
- Đó chỉ là hành động làm vớt vát sau một loạt sai lầm. (That was just a salvage action after a series of mistakes.)
Vớt vát thành công: To salvage a partial success from a potential failure.
- Dù thua trận, đội bóng vẫn vớt vát được thành công bằng một bàn thắng danh dự. (Even though they lost the match, the team still salvaged some success with a consolation goal.)