Definition

1. Verb:
   • To eat stealthily; to eat on the sly: The primary meaning of "ăn vụng" is to eat something secretly, typically because one is not supposed to have it or wants to avoid sharing. It implies a furtive, sneaky action.
   • To engage in covert, illicit activity (figurative): By extension, "ăn vụng" can describe any secretive, improper, or illicit act done behind someone's back, such as having a clandestine affair.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Đứa trẻ ăn vụng kẹo trong tủ. (The child stealthily ate the candy in the cupboard.)
  • Nó bị mẹ mắng vì ăn vụng cơm trước bữa tối. (He was scolded by his mother for sneaking food before dinner.)
  • Câu chuyện về ông chủ ăn vụng với thư ký đã lan khắp công ty. (The story about the boss having a secret affair with his secretary spread throughout the company.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in proverbs and idioms to convey moral lessons about secrecy and the inevitable exposure of wrongdoings.
• "ăn vụng như mèo": Literally "to eat stealthily like a cat." This simile emphasizes the quiet, sneaky nature of the act. It can also idiomatically refer to "stolen kisses."
  • Nó ăn vụng như mèo, chẳng ai hay. (He eats on the sly like a cat, nobody notices.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ăn lén (v): A close synonym meaning to eat secretly or furtively.
  • Tôi thường ăn lén kem nửa đêm. (I often sneak ice cream at midnight.)
• Ăn trộm (v): To steal. While "ăn vụng" focuses on the stealthy consumption, "ăn trộm" focuses on the theft itself.
  • Kẻ đó đã ăn trộm ví của tôi. (That person stole my wallet.)

Synonyms

• To sneak food: To eat secretly.
• To pilfer: To steal (especially things of small value).
• To be clandestine: Kept secret or done secretively.

Related Idioms and Proverbs

• Ăn vụng không biết chùi mép: Literally "to eat stealthily but not know to wipe one's mouth." It means to do something wrong or illicit but be careless about covering it up, leaving obvious evidence.
  • Hắn nói dối nhưng lại quên xóa tin nhắn, đúng là ăn vụng không biết chùi mép. (He lied but forgot to delete the messages, truly not knowing how to cover his tracks.)
• Ăn vụng quen mùi: Literally "once you eat stealthily, you get used to the smell." Similar to "give him an inch and he'll take a mile." It means that once someone gets away with a small misdeed, they are likely to repeat or escalate it.
• Ăn vụng như chớp: Literally "to eat stealthily like lightning." Describes someone who is a habitual and expert at sneaking food, making them very hard to catch in the act.

verb

1. to eat stealthily; to eat on the sly
   • ăn vụng như mèo
     stolen kisses are eat