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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.
# 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.
# 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.”
# 86
March 18, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
चट मंगनी पट ब्याह
(Transliteration: Chatt mangni patt byah.)
Literal translation: Quick engagement (matchmaking) quick wedding. (One instant engagement, next instant wedding.)
Figurative meaning: To force things to happen quickly; not letting the step-by-step process take its usual time to happen. (Somewhat like a shotgun wedding.)
Usage in a sample sentence:
आमतौर पर आवेदन के बाद तीन महीने लगते है, लेकिन एजेंट ने कहा कि उसका पहुंच ऊंचा है और वह दो दिनों में मेरा वीजा जारी करवा सकता है। सोचो: चट मंगनी पट ब्याह।
Transliteration: Aamtaur par aavedan ke baad theen mahine lagte hai, lekin agent ne kaha ki usska pahunch ooncha hai aur woh do dino mein mera visa jaari karwa sakta hai. Socho: chatt mangni patt byah.
Translation: Usually it takes three months after application but the agent said that his reach is high and he can get my visa issued in two days. Imagine! One instant engagement, next instant wedding.
Origins of the proverb: Traditionally in India, weddings are conducted within three to six months of engagement. The time between the engagement and wedding is utilized by the families to prepare for the event and to send out the invitations to relatives and friends. Only in very rare instances are the weddings delayed beyond this or expedited. In an emergency, engagement and wedding could happening immediately one after the other on the same day. This situation is described as “chatt mangni patt byah.” People have adopted this phrase as a popular proverb and it is very commonly used to describe any activity that is carried out without due process and without any regard for the time usually assigned for it.
# 85
March 17, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
गरीबी में आटा गीला।
(Transliteration: Gareebi mein aata geela.)
Literal translation: In poverty, flour wet. (Was) In poverty (already) (and now) the flour is wet.
Figurative meaning: As if the already existing situation was not difficult enough, now another difficulty has been added.
Usage in a sample sentence:
जॉन किसी तरह अपने ट्यूशन फीज़ के पैसे अपने दोस्तों से उधार लिया, लेकिन स्कूल जाते समय किसी ने उसकी जेब काट ली और पैसे चोरी हो गए। बेचारेका गरीबी में आटा गीला हो गया।
(Transliteration: John kisi tarah apne tuition fees ke paise apne doston se udhaar liya, lekin school jaate samay kisi ne uske jeb kaat li aur paise chori ho gaye. Bechareka gareebi mein aata geela ho gaya.)
Translation: John somehow borrowed his tuition fee money from his friends, but on his way to school, someone picked his pocket and the money was stolen. Poor guy, got his flour wet while in poverty.
Origins of the proverb: Wheat flour (aata) is the main ingredient in making Indian flatbread (rotis), which is the staple diet of most of the Hindi-speaking north Indians. The poor man’s subsistence diet is supposed to be dal and roti. To preserve the wheat flour, it must be kept dry in a water-tight container, because once the flour comes in contact with water, it undergoes an irreversible chemical change and it can no longer be preserved. During times of poverty and scarcity, people try their best to keep their flour dry and use it only sparingly. Sometimes, due to an accident or due to heavy rains and flooding, some water might get into the flour-container and thus spoil the flour. Such unfortunate accidents cause additional difficulties in an already impoverished house. So, when you are already in poverty and your flour gets wet, the situation came to be used as a euphemism for additional difficulties piling up on an already difficult situation.
# 82
March 13, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
अक्ल बड़ी या भैंस?
(Transliteration: Akal badi ya bhains?)
Literal translation: Is the brain bigger or the buffalo?
Figurative meaning: Brain (although smaller in size) is mightier than the buffalo (a massively huge animal).
Usage in a sample sentence:
शेर भैंस का शिकार करके खाता है, लेकिन खरगोश अपने अक्ल से शेर को कुएं में डाल देता है। तो, बताओ, अक्ल बड़ी या भैंस?
(Transliteration: Sher bhains ka shikaar karke khata hai, lekin khargosh apne akal se sher ko kuway mein dal deta hai. Toh, batao, akal badi ya bhains?)
Translation: The lion hunts and feeds on the buffalo, but the rabbit puts the lion into the well using his brains. So, tell me, brains or buffalo, which is bigger?
Origins of the proverb: This proverb is in the form of a rhetorical question. It asks which is bigger (or mightier), brains or a buffalo. The answer is in the question itself, as the proverb actually means to tell us that using our brains, we can outsmart even a physically strong opponent. In the ancient Indian collection of fables called Panchatantra, there is a story of how a rabbit tricks a lion into jumping into a well. Our brains may be small in size, but if we make good use of it, we can win over an opponent who may be bigger and mightier than us in physical strength.
# 81
March 12, 2021
Today’s Hindi proverb (कहावत) is:
मरता क्या न करता?
(Transliteration: Marta kya na karta?)
Literal translation: What won’t the dying do?
Figurative meaning: A person who is in a desperate situation will not hesitate to do anything to help himself.
Usage in a sample sentence:
सुरेश ईमानदार था। कभी चोरी नहीं किया। लेकिन मरता क्या न करता? तीन दिन भूखा रहने के बाद अब अचानक खाना सामने पडा मिला तो उसने चुराके खा लिया।
(Transliteration: Suresh imandar tha. Kabhi chori nahi kiya. Lekin marta kya na karta? Teen din bhuka rehne ke baad ab achanak khana samne pada mila toh ussne churake kha liya.)
Translation: Suresh was honest. Never stole. But what wouldn’t the dying do? After going hungry for three days, now suddenly he found food lying in front of him, so he stole it and ate.
Origins of the proverb: Our limits are tested when we are thrown into a desperate situation from which there seem to be no escape. In such situations, we tend to resort to anything to save ourselves, even resorting to things we would otherwise consider taboo. The Hindi word “marta” alludes to a person about to die. A dying person (or someone who is faced with life-or-death situation) is thought of as being in a very desperate situation. This proverb applies to such a person, who will not shy from trying anything to save himself.
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