ăn bĩnh
Definition
- Verb (slang, informal):
- To renege on a gambling debt; to not pay when one loses a bet or game: The primary meaning refers to the act of refusing to settle a debt incurred from losing a wager, game of chance, or informal bet. It implies dishonesty and breaking an implicit agreement.
- To welch on a bet: To fail to honor the terms of a bet, specifically by not paying money owed after a loss.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hắn thua bài rồi ăn bĩnh, không chịu trả tiền. (He lost at cards and welched, refusing to pay the money.)
- Đừng chơi cá độ với nó, nó hay ăn bĩnh lắm. (Don't place bets with him; he often reneges on his debts.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is strongly associated with informal gambling contexts and carries a strong negative connotation of untrustworthiness. It is not used in formal financial or legal contexts regarding debt.
Variants and Related Words
- Ăn quỵt (v, slang): A closely related synonym meaning to swindle someone out of money or to dodge a debt.
- Nó ăn quỵt tiền nợ của tôi. (He swindled me out of my debt money.)
Synonyms
- To welch (on a bet): To avoid paying a lost bet.
- To renege (on a debt/wager): To go back on a promise or agreement to pay.
- To dodge a debt: To avoid paying money that is owed.
Related Idioms
- While "ăn bĩnh" itself is a specific slang term, it relates to broader concepts of dishonesty in agreements.
- Nợ như chúa Chổm: (Idiom) To be deeply in debt; to owe debts everywhere. This describes the state of a debtor, while "ăn bĩnh" describes the act of refusing to pay.