xuống tay
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To lower one's hand (literally): The physical act of moving one's hand downward.
- To relent; to show mercy; to hold back: To become less severe, strict, or harsh in one's actions or judgment, often by choosing not to punish or criticize fully.
- To decline in skill or technique (of an artist or craftsman): Refers to a deterioration in the manual skill, dexterity, or artistic ability one once possessed, often due to age, lack of practice, or waning talent.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Cô giáo rất nghiêm khắc nhưng cuối cùng cũng xuống tay. (The teacher was very strict but finally relented.)
- Sau nhiều năm không vẽ, kỹ thuật của họa sĩ ấy đã xuống tay nhiều. (After many years of not painting, that artist's technique has declined significantly.)
- Anh ấy định phạt nặng nhưng rồi lại xuống tay. (He intended to punish severely but then showed mercy.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used in contexts involving judgment, punishment, artistry, or craftsmanship. It implies a movement from a higher, stricter, or more skilled state to a lower, more lenient, or less capable one.
Variants and Related Words
- Buông tay (v): to let go; to give up; to stop intervening.
- Nương tay (v): to be lenient; to go easy on someone.
Synonyms
- Relent: to become less severe or strict.
- Decline (in skill): to decrease in quality or ability.
- Slacken: to reduce one's intensity or severity.
Related Idioms
- Xuống tay không đành: to be unable to bring oneself to act harshly; to be unwilling to follow through with a severe action due to pity or mercy.
- Thấy nó khóc, tôi xuống tay không đành. (Seeing him cry, I couldn't bring myself to be harsh.)