qua đò khinh sóng
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To scorn a danger once it is safely behind you — becoming dismissive or arrogant after hardship has passed.
Literally: After the ferry crossing, one sneers at the waves.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Chiding someone who forgets how hard things were — or who helped them through.
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Sources & notes
Contributed by the site owner (July 2026); curated editorially.
Equivalents & related
Related
qua cầu rút ván
To discard the people who helped you once you no longer need them; to destroy the way back after getting what you wanted.
Tiếng Việt
Near equivalent
burn your bridges
To act in a way that makes returning to a previous situation or relationship impossible, often by leaving on bad terms.
English · via qua cầu rút ván
Related
ăn cháo đá bát
To be ungrateful — to turn against or abandon the very person who helped you.
Tiếng Việt · via qua cầu rút ván
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “qua đò khinh sóng” mean?
To scorn a danger once it is safely behind you — becoming dismissive or arrogant after hardship has passed. Literally: After the ferry crossing, one sneers at the waves.
Is “qua đò khinh sóng” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.