treo đầu dê bán thịt chó
verb
Hanoi [t͡ɕɛw˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ ze˧˧ ʔɓaːn˧˦ tʰit̚˧˨ʔ t͡ɕɔ˧˦]Huế [ʈɛw˧˧ ʔɗəw˦˩ jej˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˦˧˥ tʰit̚˨˩ʔ t͡ɕɔ˨˩˦]Saigon [ʈɛw˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ jej˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˦˥ tʰɨt̚˨˩˨ cɔ˦˥] browser voice
Each syllable carries one of six tones; the mark on the vowel tells you which. How the six tones sound →
treo đầu dê bán thịt chó means to put up goat heads; to practice blatantly false advertising.
Meanings of treo đầu dê bán thịt chó in English
Verb
- literal to put up goat heads, but actually be selling dog meat
- figurative to practice blatantly false advertising, to pull off a bait and switch
Etymology
Calque of Chinese 掛羊頭賣狗肉 /挂羊头卖狗肉 (quải dương đầu mại cẩu nhục).
Frequently asked questions
What does treo đầu dê bán thịt chó mean in English?
treo đầu dê bán thịt chó (verb) means "to put up goat heads; to practice blatantly false advertising".
How do you pronounce treo đầu dê bán thịt chó?
IPA: Hanoi [t͡ɕɛw˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ ze˧˧ ʔɓaːn˧˦ tʰit̚˧˨ʔ t͡ɕɔ˧˦]; Saigon [ʈɛw˧˧ ʔɗəw˨˩ jej˧˧ ʔɓaːŋ˦˥ tʰɨt̚˨˩˨ cɔ˦˥]. Tones: treo — level tone (ngang), đầu — falling tone (huyền), dê — level tone (ngang), bán — rising tone (sắc), thịt — heavy tone (nặng), chó — rising tone (sắc).