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# 100
April 1, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
सर सलामत तो पगड़ी हज़ार
(Transliteration: Sar salamat toh pagadi hazaar.)
Literal translation: If the head is intact, there can be a thousand turbans.
Figurative meaning: In a life-and-death situation, it is better to sacrifice a little pride and save your life. (You live to fight another day.)
Usage in a sample sentence:
टॉम ने वेह तीन को देखा और समझ लिया कि उनको मारना मुश्किल है; वह यह सोचते हुए घटनास्थल से भागा कि सर सलामत तो पगड़ी हजार।
(Transliteration: Tom ne weh teen ko dekha aur samajh liya ki unko maarna mushkil hai; woh yeh sochte huae ghatnashtal se bhaaga ki sar salamat toh pagadi hazaar.)
Translation: Tom saw the three and understood that it was difficult to beat them; he ran away from the scene, thinking that (if his head was intact, he could have a thousand turbans) if he survives today, he can live to fight another day.
Origins of the proverb: In India, a turban is a status symbol, traditionally worn by men who are wealthy, leaders, noble, and spiritual gurus. In a battle, sometimes the turban gets dislodged and there may not be enough time or opportunity to retrieve that turban (although, to be without a turban would feel less dignified). In such situations, this proverb advises people to let go of the turban and to save their ‘head’ from being chopped off. If you manage to escape with your head intact, you can have thousands of turbans to replace the lost one.
# 99
March 31, 2021
Today’s Hindi idiom (मुहावरा) is:
पाँव भारी होना
(Transliteration: Paav bhari hona.)
Literal translation: Feet being heavy (usually referring to a woman).
Figurative meaning: To be pregnant.
Usage in a sample sentence:
मैरी ने सहेली से कहा, “तुम यहां पैरिस आ जाओ; मुझे बहू के साथ यहीं रहना होगा — उसके पाँव भारी हैं।
Transliteration: Mary ne Saheli se kaha, “Tum yahan Paris aa jaao; mujhe bahu ke sath yahin rahna hoga — usske paav bhari hain.
Translation: Mary told her friend, “You come here to Paris; I have to stay here with my daughter-in-law — (her feet are heavy) she is pregnant.”
Origins of the idiom: When a woman is pregnant, her body needs as much rest and care as is possible. Sometimes she feels tired and finds it difficult to move about as easily as she used to. She may feel as if her feet were heavier that before. This feeling of ‘feet being heavy’ was adopted as a euphemism for the lady being pregnant.
# 98
March 30, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
धोबी का कुत्ता घर का न घाट का
(Transliteration: Dhobi ka kutta ghar ka na ghat ka.)
Literal translation: The washerman’s dog belongs neither to (the washerman’s) home nor to the riverside.
Figurative meaning: A person who keeps moving from place to place and ends up establishing himself nowhere.
Usage in a sample sentence:
जब जॉन ने अपने माता-पिता के ओर्थडोक्स चर्च को छोड़ दिया और कैथोलिक चर्च में शामिल हुआ, उन्हें वहां बहुत कम स्वीकृति मिली; तब उसे धोबी के कुत्ते की तरह महसूस हुआ, जो न घर का न घाट का रहा।
(Transliteration: Jab John ne apne matha-pitha ke orthodox church ko chod diya aur catholic church mein shamil hua, unhe wahan bahut kam swikriti mili; tab usse dhobi ke kutte ki tarah mehsus hua, jo na ghar ka na ghat ka raha.)
Translation: When John left his parents’ Orthodox Church and joined the Catholic Church, he received very little acceptance there; he then felt like the dog of a washerman, who belongs neither to home nor to the riverside.
Origins of the proverb: In India, one of the meanings of the word “ghat” is a ‘set of steps or a slope leading to a riverside.’ The washerman goes to the ghat daily to wash the clothes in the river water. His dog goes with him in the morning and comes back home with him in the evening. The dog, therefore, ends up not making friends with other dogs near home nor at the ghat, because he is a temporary “visitor” at both places. People in ancient India coined this proverb to allude to any person who is unable to stay loyal to one organization. For example, a politician who keeps shifting his party allegiance: that politician then gets treated like the washerman’s dog — not considered belonging to any party.
# 97
March 29, 2021
Today’s Hindi idiom (मुहावरा) is:
हाथ पीले करना
(Transliteration: Haath peele karna.)
Literal translation: To make (someone’s) hands yellow.
Figurative meaning: To arrange for (someone’s) marriage. (Usually that someone is a sister or a daughter.)
Usage in a sample sentence:
मत भूलना, जॉन, तम्हारे पिता की अनुपस्थिति में, तुम्हारे बहनों के हाथ पीले करना तुम्हारी जिम्मेदारी है।
Transliteration: Mat bhoolna, John, tumhare pita ki anupsthithi mein, tumhare behano ke haath peele karna tumhari jimmedaari hai.
Translation: Don’t forget, John, in the absence of your father, it is your responsibility to (make your sisters’ hands yellow) arrange for your sisters’ marriage.
Origins of the idiom: One of the events in a Hindu wedding in India is called the “Haldi” or the turmeric event, which is held a couple of days before the actual wedding day. In this event, the bride-to-be is smeared, on her face, hands and legs, with a paste made of turmeric powder and water. Her friends and relatives gather around her and take turns to apply the turmeric paste on her. After a couple of hours, she has a bath and washes the paste off, but the yellow color remains for a few more days for all to see. So, the ‘yellowing of her hands’ became a euphemism that came to mean ‘arranging for her marriage.’
# 96
March 28, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
खोदा पहाड़, निकला चुहा
(Transliteration: Khodha pahaad, nikla chuha.)
Literal translation: (We) dug (through a) mountain, (and) out came (just a) mouse.
Figurative meaning: To pursue something or investigate with great expectations, but in the end achieve almost nothing. Wasted effort on futile outcome.
Usage in a sample sentence:
पुलिस ने एक लंबी खोज के बाद जॉन को गिरफ्तार किया और उसके मोबाइल फोन डेटा के हजारों पृष्ठों का विश्लेषण किया, लेकिन जॉन निर्दोष निकला। खोदा पहाड़, निकला चूहा।
(Transliteration: Police ne ek lambi khoj ke baad John ko girafthaar kiya aur usske mobile phone data ke hajaron prashton ka vishleshan kiya, lekin John nirdosh nikla. Khodha pahad, nikla chuha.)
Translation: After a long search the police arrested John and analyzed thousands of pages of his mobile phone data, but John turned out to be innocent. (They dug through a mountain and out came just a mouse) Their efforts were wasted on this futile outcome.
Origins of the proverb: The origin of this proverb could be traced to Aesop’s fables (The Mountain in Labor). We usually describe any arduous work as a load of work, or a pile of work, or a “mountain” of work. In the ancient times, people would have dug through a mountain in the search of a dangerous animal or a giant snake, but in the end if they found only a mouse, they feel their effort in digging through the mountain was wasted. So, when people perform some difficult tasks and get no result or negligible result, then they use this proverb to describe their frustrating situation. We can say it in Greek, English or Hindi, but this timeless concept remains the same across all languages.
# 95
March 27, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
अब आया ऊँट पहाड़ के नीचे
(Transliteration: Ab aaya unth pahaad ke neeche.)
Literal translation: Now the camel has come to the foot of the mountain.
Figurative meaning: Someone has been shown his place, or cut down to size. Someone who thought very highly of himself has been finally humbled.
Usage in a sample sentence:
पुलिस को दो साल तक चकमा देने और यह दावा करने के बाद कि वह कभी पकड़ा नहीं जाएगा, जॉन को आज गिरफ्तार किया गया। अब आया ऊंट पहाड़ के नीचे।
(Transliteration: Police ko do saal tak chakma dene aur yeh dava karne ke baad ki woh kabhi pakda nahin jayega, John ko aaj giraftaar kiya gaya. Ab aaya unth pahaad ke neeche.)
Translation: After dodging the police for two years and boasting that he would never be caught, John got arrested today. Now (the camel has come to the foot of the mountain) he got shown his place.
Origins of the proverb: This proverb is popularly attributed to a fable of a camel who thought he was the tallest in the world when compared with everyone around him, including his master, because he could raise his neck high and see far off things. One day the master brought the camel to a valley surrounded by huge mountains, and the camel realized that there were other things taller than him, as he could not raise his neck above the mountains. In real life, when people thought they were invincible, but later realized that they were wrong, they were reminded of the camel who came below the mountains. You can see Gabbar Singh using this proverb in this scene from the Hindi movie Sholay (t = 1.42).
# 94
March 26, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़ियाँ चुग गईं खेत
(Transliteration: Ab pachtayae hoth kya jab chidiya chug gayi khet.)
Literal translation: What is the use of repenting now when birds have devoured your farm.
Figurative meaning: It is no use feeling sorry after something bad has happened. (Similar to the English saying “It’s no use crying over spilt milk.”)
Usage in a sample sentence:
जॉन ने सोर्री कहा और मुझसे पूछा कि वह बैकंरप्टसी से कैसे बच सकते हैं। मैंने कहा कि उसे अपना बिसनस तब बदलना चाहिए था जब मैंने उसे सलाह दी थी। अब पछताए होत क्या जब चिड़ियाँ चुग गईं खेत?
Transliteration: John ne sorry kaha aur mujhsae poocha ki woh bankruptcy sae kaisae bach saktae hain. Mainae kaha ki usae apna business thab badalna chahiyae tha jab mainae usae salah dee thi. Ab pachtayae hoth kya jab chidiya chug gayi khet?
Translation: John said sorry and asked me how he could avoid bankruptcy. I told him that he should have changed his business then when I had advised him. What is the point in repenting now (when birds have devoured your farm) after the damage is done?
Origins of the proverb: Agriculture is one of the major activities in India. To guard your crop, you are required to take some action against the predators. If you neglect your crop, they may get eaten up by birds and animals, or stolen by humans. Once your crop is lost, there is no use in crying, complaining, or feeling sorry about it. You are not going to get any of it back. This proverb has been in use since ancient times, but it is used even today to remind us not to procrastinate on things that need to be done. It is better to do at the appropriate time what needs to be done rather than delay things and repent later.
# 93
March 25, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
तीन में न तेरह में।
(Transliteration: Teen mein na terah mein.)
Literal translation: Neither in three nor in thirteen.
Figurative meaning: To be excluded from every coveted list. To be not worthy of any consideration. Fail to get selected in spite of several applications.
Usage in a sample sentence:
जॉन अपने स्कूल की क्रिकेट, हॉकी या टेनिस टीम में चुने जाने की उम्मीद की थी, लेकिन वह तीन में न तेरह में रहे।
Transliteration: John apnae school ki cricket, hockey ya tennis team mein chunae jaanae ki ummeed kee thi, lekin woh teen mein na terah mein rahae.
Translation: John was expecting to be selected in his school’s cricket, hockey or tennis team, but he (was neither in three nor in thirteen) didn’t make it to any of the lists.
Origins of the proverb: We cannot be sure of the veracity of this story about the origin of this proverb, but it is nevertheless an interesting one. A wealthy man fell in love with a prostitute, who also told him that she loved him the most. He was so moved that he sent an expensive pearl necklace as a gift to her through his servant with instructions that he should just tell her that it was from the man she loved the most. She liked the necklace and started to guess the name of her benefactor. First, she named three, but the servant told her it was none of those. Then she named thirteen more, but again the servant said the same. She returned the gift saying that she cannot accept a gift from an unknown person. The servant went back to his master and told him that he was wasting his time and money on this, because the master was “neither in three nor in thirteen.”
# 92
March 24, 2021
Today’s Hindi idiom (मुहावरा) is:
इज्ज़त मिट्टी में मिलाना
(Transliteration: Izzat mitti mein milana.)
Literal translation: To commix honor in soil.
Figurative meaning: To spoil one’s reputation.
Usage in a sample sentence:
जॉन का बहुत सम्मान था, लेकिन उसके पीने की आदत ने उसकी सारी इज्ज़त मिट्टी में मिला दी।
Transliteration: John ka bahut samman tha, lekin usske peenae ki aadat ne usski saari izzat mitti mein mila di.
Translation: John was highly respected, but due to his drinking habits, all his honor (got commixed in the soil) was destroyed.
Origins of the idiom: When something falls down on the ground and is contaminated with the soil, we immediately dispose of it saying that it is spoilt. Soil and mud are considered dirty and therefore we avoid them and try to keep our bodies and clothes from getting soiled. So, when someone does something by which his reputation or honor is spoiled, we use this idiom to remind us of how his actions have had the same effect as if he had dumped his honor in the mud. Another version of this idiom is also commonly used, with the first word replaced with “Naam” (name). You can see Gabbar Singh using this idiom in this famous scene (t = 1.45).
# 91
March 23, 2021
Today’s Hindi idiom (मुहावरा) is:
कच्चा खा जाना
(Transliteration: Kachha kha jana.)
Literal translation: To eat (someone or something) raw.
Figurative meaning: To punish severely. To inflict severe pain.
Usage in a sample sentence:
हमने अभी तक शादी नहीं की है, लेकिन अगर वह मुझे किसी दूसरी महिला को देखते हुए भी पकड़ा, तो वह मुझे कच्चा खा जाएगी।
Transliteration: Hamne abhi tak shaadi nahin ki hai, lekin agar woh mujhe kisi doosri mahila ko dekhte huae bhi pakda toh woh mujhe kachha kha jaayegi.
Translation: We are not married yet, but if she catches me even looking at another woman, she will (eat me raw) punish me severely.
Origins of the idiom: The origin of this idiom is not very well known, but I would guess that it originates from the fact that when people are very angry, they sometimes react without thinking. They react forcefully or violently in the heat of the moment. They do not think or wait for anything. They do not wait ‘for the food to be cooked,’ so to speak. They grab what is in front of them and then chew on it, even though it is raw and uncooked. Also, when we chew on uncooked food, we need to chew harder. Chewing softly will not serve our purpose. This ‘harder chewing’ points to the severity of the punishment. In English language, we also have a saying that goes, ‘She nearly bit my head off’ in reference to someone reacting suddenly and retaliating violently.
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