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ma ăn cỗ. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ma ăn cỗ, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ma ăn cỗ in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Vietnamese
Etymology
From ma (“ghost”) + ăn (“eat”) + cỗ (“feast”). This refers to the tradition of preparing a feast for the deceased during deathday commemorations or similar events for their ghosts to consume. However, even after the ghosts have allegedly had their meal, the feast remains untouched. It is unknown how or where the ghosts have had their meal, making it a secret.
Pronunciation
Idiom
ma ăn cỗ
- (uncommon) any act carried out so clandestinely and secretly that all traces are erased, especially illicit affairs
Quý bà ngã ngửa khi phát hiện chuyện "ma ăn cỗ" ngay trong nhà.- A woman was shocked to find an illicit affair in her house.
Usage notes
Often preceded by negative phrases such as ai biết được, ai mà biết, ai biết đâu, nào ai biết, làm sao mà biết + chuyện/chỗ with the meaning "although one does not witness something for themselves, they still suspect that it exists".
- Ai biết chuyện ma ăn cỗ.
- Biết đâu chỗ ma ăn cỗ.
References