ăn chặn

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ăn chặn

Kẻ gian đã ăn chặn một phần tiền cứu trợ của người dân vùng lũ.

Definition
  1. Verb:
    • To appropriate part of something for oneself, to embezzle a portion: The act of dishonestly taking a part of something (especially money or goods) that belongs to someone else or that one is supposed to deliver in full. It implies skimming, siphoning off, or pocketing a portion.
    • To shortchange, to cheat someone out of a part of what is due: To deliberately give less than the full amount owed, keeping the difference for oneself.
Usage Examples
  • Verb:
    • Công ty vận chuyển bị phát hiện ăn chặn tiền cước của khách hàng. (The transport company was found to have appropriated part of the customers' shipping fees.)
    • Anh ta ăn chặn tiền mua nguyên liệu rồi báo cáo giá cao hơn. (He pocketed part of the money for buying materials and then reported a higher price.)
    • Không được ăn chặn tiền từ thiện. (Do not embezzle a portion of the charity money.)
Advanced Usage
  • "ăn chặn tiền": to embezzle/skim money.
    • Viên chức tham nhũng đó đã ăn chặn tiền ngân sách. (That corrupt official embezzled part of the budget money.)
  • "ăn chặn hàng": to pilfer/short-ship goods.
    • Tài xế xe tải bị cáo buộc ăn chặn hàng hóa. (The truck driver is accused of pilfering part of the goods.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Ăn bớt (verb): A very close synonym, meaning to take a portion for oneself dishonestly. Often used interchangeably with "ăn chặn," though "ăn bớt" can sometimes imply a smaller, more routine theft.
    • Người bán hàng ăn bớt khối lượng để kiếm lời. (The seller short-weighs the goods to make a profit.)
  • Tham ô (verb): To embezzle, to misappropriate (often larger sums or public funds). This is a more formal and serious term.
    • Bị kết tội tham ô tài sản nhà nước. (Charged with embezzling state property.)
  • Biển thủ (verb): To embezzle, to peculate. Another formal synonym, often used in legal contexts.
Synonyms
  • To embezzle: To steal or misappropriate (money placed in one's trust or belonging to one's employer). (Formal equivalent)
  • To skim (off): To take a portion of money dishonestly, especially from a large sum passing through one's hands.
  • To pilfer: To steal (things of little value) in small quantities. (Often for goods)
  • To shortchange: To give less than the correct amount of change; to cheat someone by giving less than what is due. (Common for money in transactions)
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

Note: As "ăn chặn" is a Vietnamese verb, it does not have English phrasal verb equivalents. The synonyms above serve the same function.

Related Idioms
  • "Ăn trên đầu trên cổ (người khác)": To exploit others ruthlessly, to take advantage in a domineering way. This idiom shares the thematic concept of unjustly taking from others but is more severe and broad than "ăn chặn."
    • Hắn ta làm giàu bằng cách ăn trên đầu trên cổ công nhân. (He got rich by ruthlessly exploiting the workers.)
ăn chặn

Kẻ gian đã ăn chặn một phần tiền cứu trợ của người dân vùng lũ.

verb
  1. To appropriate part of
    • chúng dám ăn chặn lương hưu của nhiều cựu chiến binh
      they dared appropriate part of many war veterans' retirement pension