mượn gió bẻ măng

Vietnamese

Etymology

Literally, “To rely on the wind [in order to] snap the bamboo shoot”.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [mɨən˧˨ʔ zɔ˧˦ ʔɓɛ˧˩ maŋ˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [mɨəŋ˨˩ʔ jɔ˨˩˦ ʔɓɛ˧˨ maŋ˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [mɨəŋ˨˩˨ jɔ˦˥ ʔɓɛ˨˩˦ maŋ˧˧]

Verb

mượn gió bẻ măng

1. (idiomatic) to take advantage of a situation in order to advance one's own ill-intention

   Synonyms: thừa gió bẻ măng, thừa nước đục thả câu