mắt chữ O mồm chữ A

Vietnamese

Alternative forms

• mắt chữ O, mồm chữ A
• mắt chữ A mồm chữ O
• mắt chữ A, mồm chữ O

Etymology

Literally “eyes (wide open, like) the letter O, and mouth (gasping, sounding like) the letter A”.

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [mat̚˧˦ t͡ɕɨ˦ˀ˥ ʔɔ˧˧ mom˨˩ t͡ɕɨ˦ˀ˥ ʔaː˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [mak̚˦˧˥ t͡ɕɨ˧˨ ʔɔ˧˧ mom˦˩ t͡ɕɨ˧˨ ʔaː˧˧]
• (Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [mak̚˦˥ cɨ˨˩˦ ʔɔ˧˧ mom˨˩ cɨ˨˩˦ ʔaː˧˧]

Phrase

mắt chữ O mồm chữ A

1. (figurative) to be shocked; to be gobsmacked