cò chẳng tha ngao
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The snipe won't release the clam — neither side yielding, both in the fisherman's basket soon.
Literally: the snipe spares not the clam
Sources & notes
Discovered via Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Tục ngữ, cổ ngữ, gia ngôn (Huỳnh Tịnh Của, 1897). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.
Common questions
What does “cò chẳng tha ngao” mean?
The snipe won't release the clam — neither side yielding, both in the fisherman's basket soon. Literally: the snipe spares not the clam
Is “cò chẳng tha ngao” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.