chó cắn áo rách

/tʃɔ˧˩ kɐn˧˦ aːw˧˦ zaj˧˥/◆idiom

worst possible situation

Tôi vừa mất việc, tiền thì hết sạch, lại còn bị chó cắn áo rách khi trời mưa ướt hết quần áo.

I just lost my job, ran out of money, and to make it worse, it rained and soaked all my clothes when I was already in the worst possible situation.

◆ What It Really Means

A situation where everything goes wrong simultaneously, leaving someone helpless.

¶ Literal Meaning

A dog bites a torn shirt.

Literal Breakdown

chóa dog+cắnbites+áo rácha torn shirt

◇ Mental Image

The mental picture of a poor person whose torn clothes are so worthless that even a dog would bite them, symbolizing extreme misfortune.

◈ When to Use

Imagine losing your job, then your car breaks down, and it starts raining heavily just as you realize your clothes are soaked. You might exclaim, 'Chó cắn áo rách!' to express how everything is going wrong at once.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the traditional Vietnamese view of poverty as a state where even the most basic possessions are not spared from misfortune. It underscores the idea that adversity comes in waves.

informal

A situation where everything goes wrong at the same time, leaving someone helpless and overwhelmed.

Sau khi bị sa thải, xe hỏng giữa đường, rồi trời đổ mưa đúng lúc áo quần ướt hết — đúng là chó cắn áo rách.

After getting fired, my car broke down on the road, and then it rained just when my clothes were soaked — it was the worst possible situation.

Often used to describe a cascade of misfortunes.

Synonyms

tình thế éo le khốn cùng

Antonyms

may mắn thuận lợi

Related Phrases

trời đánh tránh bữa ănproverb

to avoid trouble at all costs, even if it means enduring hardship

một nỗi lo chồng chất nỗi lophrase

one worry piled upon another

Pro Tip

When to use

Use this idiom when someone is facing a series of bad luck or problems that seem to compound each other. It’s a hyperbolic way to express frustration.

Gold Rule

Idiom vs. Literal Meaning

Never interpret this literally. It’s not about dogs or torn clothes but about being in a hopeless situation.

Word Origin

Literal meaning: 'a dog bites a torn shirt.' The idiom originates from the image of being so poor that even your torn clothes are bitten by dogs, symbolizing extreme misfortune.

Usage Notes

Used to emphasize that someone is facing multiple, simultaneous problems. Often spoken with a tone of exasperation or resignation.

Word Breakdown

chó

dog

noun

cắn

to bite

verb

áo rách

torn shirt

noun phrase

Từ Điển Việt Anh

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