Looking up...
A situation where someone is in a difficult or hopeless position, often due to their own actions or poor decisions.
Anh đã đổ nước đổ lá khoai khi bỏ việc mà không có tiền tiết kiệm.
He got himself into a hopeless situation by quitting his job without any savings.
Nếu không học kỹ, em sẽ đổ nước đổ lá khoai trong kỳ thi.
If you don't study hard, you'll be in a difficult position during the exam.
This idiom is often used to describe a self-inflicted predicament.
This idiom is often used to describe self-inflicted problems, so it may carry a slightly negative or critical tone.
The phrase is not used literally to describe spilling water; it is always used figuratively to describe a difficult situation.
The phrase originates from the idea of a pot (nước) being overturned, causing water to spill and leaves (lá khoai) to scatter, symbolizing chaos and helplessness.
This idiom is commonly used in everyday conversations to describe someone who has made poor decisions leading to a difficult situation.