caau2 ce1炒車炒车
Jyutpingcaau2 ce1
Yalecháau chē
Definition
To have a traffic accident, or figuratively, to jump to a wrong conclusion too quickly.
- to have a vehicle accident; to crash a car or motorcycle
- figurativeto jump to a wrong conclusion prematurely about internet rumors that later turn out to be false
colloquialtransportslang
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of a traffic collision, this term is frequently used in online discourse to describe someone who has confidently taken a stance on a piece of news or a rumor, only to be proven wrong when the facts emerge. It captures the sense of a sudden, messy collapse of one's argument or credibility. The metaphor stems from the idea of moving too fast without enough distance, similar to the expression 跟車太貼.
Examples
He was distracted while driving and ended up crashing at the intersection.
Related words
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe a minor scratch or a simple parking mishap, as it implies a significant or dramatic event. It is also strictly colloquial and should be avoided in formal reports or professional settings.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
