The Vietnamese phrase "đánh trống lấp" literally translates to "beat the drum to cover up." It is used to describe the act of speaking loudly or making noise to distract from or obscure something unpleasant or undesirable, especially in a conversation. Essentially, it means to drown out a discussion or topic you don't want to talk about by being louder or more assertive in your speech.
Usage Instructions:
Context: Use "đánh trống lấp" when you want to describe a situation where someone is avoiding a topic or trying to change the subject by being overly vocal or dramatic.
Tone: This phrase generally carries a negative connotation, implying that the person is trying to mislead or avoid responsibility.
Example:
In a meeting, if a team member is asked about their poor performance but instead starts loudly discussing upcoming projects without addressing the original question, you might say: "Anh ta đang đánh trống lấp để không phải trả lời câu hỏi."
Advanced Usage:
In more advanced contexts, "đánh trống lấp" can also refer to situations in politics or media, where individuals or organizations try to divert attention from scandals or issues by creating noise around less important topics.
Word Variants:
Đánh trống: This part alone can imply just "beating the drum," which might be used in a more literal sense or in other idiomatic expressions.
Lấp liếm: This is another phrase that means to cover up or gloss over an issue, and it can be used similarly in contexts where someone is trying to hide the truth.
Different Meanings:
While "đánh trống lấp" primarily relates to speaking loudly to distract, it can sometimes imply a broader sense of creating a show or spectacle to draw attention away from something negative.
Synonyms:
Conclusion:
The phrase "đánh trống lấp" is a vivid idiom in Vietnamese that illustrates the idea of distraction through noise.