ỷ thế
Definition
- Verb:
- To presume upon one's position or influence: To rely on or exploit one's own power, status, or connections to act in a presumptuous, overbearing, or unfair manner.
- To rely on someone else's backing: To act with a sense of entitlement or impunity because one has the support or protection of a powerful person.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Hắn ỷ thế là con quan nên hay bắt nạt bạn học. (He presumes upon his status as an official's son to bully his classmates.)
- Đừng ỷ thế người khác mà làm điều sai trái. (Don't rely on someone else's backing to do wrong.)
- Công ty đó ỷ thế độc quyền để tăng giá. (That company presumes upon its monopoly to raise prices.)
Advanced Usage
- The term often carries a strong negative connotation, criticizing unethical behavior enabled by power dynamics. It implies arrogance and the abuse of privilege.
Variants and Related Words
ỷ lại (v): to be overly dependent on others; to rely on someone in a way that avoids personal responsibility.
- Nó có tính ỷ lại, không chịu tự lập. (He has a dependent nature, refusing to be self-reliant.)
Cậy thế (v): a near-synonym meaning to rely on one's power or influence (often used interchangeably with ỷ thế).
- Họ cậy thế đông người nên hống hách. (They rely on their greater numbers to act arrogantly.)
Synonyms
- To presume upon: To take advantage of one's position unjustifiably.
- To exploit one's position: To use one's status for unfair gain.
- To throw one's weight around: To act arrogantly based on one's power or influence.
Related Idioms
- ỷ thế cậy quyền: This common idiom combines with (to rely on one's authority), emphasizing the abuse of both influence and official power.
- Kẻ ỷ thế cậy quyền thường bị mọi người ghét. (Those who presume upon their influence and authority are often despised by everyone.)