Chota Muh Badi Baat

# 72

February 28, 2021

Today’s Hindi idiom (मुहावरा) is:

छोटा मुँह बड़ी बात

(Transliteration: Chota muh badi baat.)

Literal translation: Small mouth big talk.

Badi baat!

Figurative meaning: To butt-in and speak way beyond what is expected from someone of a particular age or social status or position in a corporate hierarchy.

Usage in a sample sentence:

मेरा छोटा मुंह बड़ी बात को क्षमा करें, बॉस, लेकिन मुझे लगता है कि आपको मंगल जैसे मृत ग्रह में निवेश नहीं करना चाहिए।

(Transliteration:  Mera chota muh badi baat ko shema kare, boss, lekin mujhe lagta hai ki aapko mangal jaise mruth grih mein nivesh nahin karna chahiye.)

Translation:  Pardon (my small mouth big talk) my saying so, boss, but I think you must not invest in a dead planet like Mars.

Origins of the idiom: In human society, a person is expected to talk only according to what is expected of them. That expectation is based on the person’s perceived maturity (age), education, social status (caste, wealth), position on the corporate ladder, etc. However, the human mind cannot be put into any such compartments. It can come up with ideas anywhere at any time, irrespective of any such social restrictions. When such ideas are presented, society is quick to repress the idea by putting down the person and telling them that such big talk does not suit their small mouth.