thẳng như ruột ngựa
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Completely frank and direct — saying exactly what one thinks, without scheming.
Literally: Straight as a horse’s gut.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Describing (usually admiringly) a blunt, honest person.
✗ Avoid it when
Can be a mild excuse for tactlessness.
Register: informalConnotation: approving, occasionally ruefulEra: Traditional – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Toàn quốc & hải ngoại · Vietnam-wide & diaspora
Examples
Tính chú ấy thẳng như ruột ngựa, nghĩ gì nói nấy.He’s straight as a horse’s gut — whatever he thinks, he says.
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Common questions
What does “thẳng như ruột ngựa” mean?
Completely frank and direct — saying exactly what one thinks, without scheming. Literally: Straight as a horse’s gut.
Is “thẳng như ruột ngựa” formal or informal?
thẳng như ruột ngựa is generally informal; connotation: approving, occasionally rueful.