ăn ngọn
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To take the first or the best part of the profit: To appropriate the initial or most advantageous portion of a gain, benefit, or yield before others receive their share. This often implies taking a disproportionate or unfairly large first cut.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Sau vụ thu hoạch, người chủ thường ăn ngọn. (After the harvest, the owner usually takes the first part of the profit.)
- Họ tranh cãi vì ai sẽ được ăn ngọn từ hợp đồng này. (They argued over who would get to take the best part of the profit from this contract.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase can be used metaphorically beyond financial contexts to describe taking the prime benefit from any situation before others.
- Trong dự án, anh ta luôn tìm cách ăn ngọn mọi thành quả. (In the project, he always finds a way to take the prime benefit of all achievements.)
Variants and Related Words
- Hưởng lợi đầu tiên: To be the first to benefit.
- Chiếm phần hơn: To take the larger/better share.
Synonyms
- To take the lion's share: To take the largest part of something.
- To skim the cream off the top: To take the best part of something for oneself.
- To get first dibs: To have the first right to choose or take something (informal).
Related Idioms
- Ăn trên ngồi trốc: To live in privilege and comfort, often from the labor of others. This shares a conceptual link of taking an unfairly advantageous position.
- Bọn quan chức chỉ biết ăn trên ngồi trốc. (The officials only know how to live in privilege and comfort.)