qua cầu rút ván

Vietnamese

Etymology

Literally, "to pull off the planks once you crossed the bridge".

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [kwaː˧˧ kəw˨˩ zut̚˧˦ vaːn˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [kwaː˧˧ kəw˦˩ ʐʊk̚˦˧˥ vaːŋ˦˧˥]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [waː˧˧ kəw˨˩ ɹʊk͡p̚˦˥ vaːŋ˦˥] ~ [waː˧˧ kəw˨˩ ɹʊk͡p̚˦˥ jaːŋ˦˥]

Verb

qua cầu rút ván

1. (idiomatic, derogatory) to be treacherous