xới xáo
Definition
- Verb:
- To turn over / to stir up (soil): The primary agricultural meaning refers to the action of digging, turning, or loosening soil, typically after initial plowing, to aerate it and prepare for planting.
- To stir up / to agitate (a situation): A figurative meaning describing the act of revisiting, re-examining, or disturbing an old issue, matter, or conflict, often causing renewed discussion or controversy.
Usage Examples
- Verb (agricultural):
- Người nông dân đang xới xáo đất trước khi gieo hạt. (The farmer is turning over the soil before sowing seeds.)
- Verb (figurative):
- Bài báo đó đã xới xáo một vụ bê bối cũ. (That article stirred up an old scandal.)
- Đừng xới xáo những chuyện đã qua. (Don't stir up matters that are in the past.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in journalism and daily conversation to imply bringing a dormant or settled issue back to light, usually with a negative connotation of causing unnecessary trouble or controversy.
Variants and Related Words
- Xới (v): to dig up, to turn over (soil); can also be used figuratively in a similar way to "xới xáo" but may be slightly more direct or forceful.
- Xới đất lên để trồng cây. (Dig up the soil to plant trees.)
Synonyms
- To cultivate / to till: (for the agricultural sense).
- To rake over / to dredge up: (for the figurative sense of reviving an old issue).
- To agitate / to disturb.
Related Idioms
- Xới xáo chuyện cũ: to rake over old coals / to bring up old grievances.
- Anh ấy thích xới xáo chuyện cũ. (He likes to rake over old coals.)