nơm-nớp như cá nằm trên thớt
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Trembling like a fish on the chopping block — dread with the blade already visible.
Literally: anxious as the fish on the board
Examples
Chờ kết quả mà nơm nớp như cá nằm trên thớt.Waiting for the verdict like a fish on the block.
Editorial example (VI sweep batch 040, illustrative)
Sources & notes
Discovered via Nam ngạn chích cẩm (Phạm Quang Sán, 1918; public domain, via vi.wikisource); retrieved 2026-08-01. Source: source ↗ Attested in Nam ngạn chích cẩm (Phạm Quang Sán, 1918). Definition is an original editorial synthesis, not copied from the source.
Common questions
What does “nơm-nớp như cá nằm trên thớt” mean?
Trembling like a fish on the chopping block — dread with the blade already visible. Literally: anxious as the fish on the board
Is “nơm-nớp như cá nằm trên thớt” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.