1

A dictionary of Hindi expressions, idioms and popular sayings

Hindi-English
Compiled by Anand Kumar

To Priscilla

Foreword

Idioms and popular expressions are what makes a language rich

and colourful. They provide a wealth of information about the history,
culture and identity of its native speakers. This Hindi-English
dictionary contains more than 4750 expressions, some used in
formal/written contexts, others in a more colloquial register. There
are more than 100 notesabout the literal meaning, origin and
possible origin of some idioms. This work will benefit Englishspeaking students of the Hindi language, who will be able to learn
more about Indian culture.

(m.)

/ to embrace.

/ to adopt.

to germinate.

to refrain from disciplining.

is the name given to an iron hook with which

elephants are driven.

/ to prohibit or stop.
(m.)

- to be extremely happy.
to swear loyalty.

to be aching from tiredness (the limbs).

to rest briefly.

to give strengths.

to be in a rapture. Also - .
to become weak (ones limbs).
(m.)

to flush with rage.

to say harsh words.

to be extremely hot.

to jump into hot waters.

to burn with rage or envy.

(m.)

to kiss someones finger: to flatter.

to make an indecent gesture.

to walk on tiptoe.
to disparage.

(f.)

a person possessing extraordinary qualities.

(m.)

() to become exhausted.
to keep hidden.

to spend ones time doing nothing.

(m.)

alls well that ends well.

() to worry, to harass.
at the hour of death.
(f.)

to be famished.

to slake ones hunger.

hard.

to feel pain in the stomach from laughing

to arrest or detain under custody.

a well whose water has dried up; (colloq.) the belly.

to make a fool out of somebody.
a complete fool.
a blind alley.

when the blind leads the blind both

will fall in a pit.
/ ones only support and sustenance.

, lit. cry in front of a blind man and

lose your eyesight: to bewail ones misfortunes before someone
who cannot help.
to obtain without effort.
when the blind leads the blind both will fall
in a pit.

lit. to sell mirrors in a world of blind

people: to do something totally useless.
a triton among the minnows.

, lit. the blind will throw up, the leper will

eat: a quandary.

every which way.

to slog.

(colloq.) the belly.

a male family member expected to perpetuate

the family line.
to make a random, risky attempt. Also
.

to act stubbornly.
(f.)

a fool.

a stupid person.

a brainy person.

to be at a loss; to be in a fix.
to build castles in the air.

to pursue a hopeless goal.

to begin to see reason.

/ to lose ones good sense.

to be devoid of good judgment.

/ to regain ones good judgment after a

mistake or misfortune.
to be dumbfounded.
to instil good sense.

to meditate; to exercise ones brain.

to lose ones wits; to be flabbergasted.

to have lost ones wits.
to lose ones wits.

to get sense, to understand.

to behave foolishly.

a nod to the wise.

(m.)

a full account.

to learn the alphabet.

lit. black letters look the same to a buffalo:

used to refer to someones ignorance of something.
(m.)
to be in the news, to be well known.
(m.)

to accept a challenge.

prevention is better than cure.
(m.)

to marvel.

to amaze.
(m.)

to be left unused; to be useless.

a respectable family.

he who sows well reaps well.

to fight with a stronger opponent.

even the best ones make mistakes.

(f.)

to make a guess.

by guess, at random, approximately.

(f.)

to lark around; to be merry.

to be stubborn.
-

- () no whereabouts; no clue.
- to find a clue.

to face a big problem.

(m.)

to fulfil (obligation); to render (thanks).

(f.)

someone well acquainted with the law.

to go to court to seek justice.

to remain in doubt.

at most.
still more.

even more.

to assert ones right; to lay a claim.

to establish control; to assert a right; to take

possession.
to have the right.

to go on a hunger strike as a protest.

(m.)

a voracious person.

- to talk nonsense; to abuse.

- to squander money.

blood is thicker than water.

to treat somebodys house as if it was ones

own.
a mother always thinks her children are the
best.
every mans house is his castle.
a friend in need is a friend indeed.
- to do what one can, as one thinks best.

to be embarrassed.

to deliberately undertake a dangerous

task.
to have faults of ones own.
to give away ones wealth or power.
self-help is the best help.

- to be concerned with ones interests.

to be a law unto oneself. Also .

to be satisfied with ones situation.

to be set apart; to think differently.

a self-seeking friend.

every man makes his own destiny.

to disgrace oneself. Also

.

to paddle ones own canoe.

it makes no difference.

others think.

to uphold ones opinion and ignore what

10

/ to care only about ones viewpoint. Also

.

to ignore others and follow ones own course.

to have a swollen
head.(fig.)
Literally, to view oneself as the brother-in-law of the Sahib, i.e. to
regard oneself important on account of serving someone in
authority.
to treat oneself complacently.
() to put on airs.
to recoginse ones faults.
as far as one knows.

every cook praises his dish.

,
overlook your own faults and count
the others.
to keep a matter to oneself.

one fights best when

driven to the wall.
to endure something patiently.
on foot.

to fend for oneself.

to be beside oneself.
to be sober.

to over-exert oneself.

to be very wise.
(m.)

a pity.

- too late or too early.

11

to delay, to evade.

or to be at the point of death.

never, nowhere.

- to speak disrespectfully.

to put an obstacle.
(m.)

to be dashed (hopes).

to remain unfullfilled (hopes).

(m.)

or to express/contain meaning.

or in the full sense (word, phrase).

-

- to leave high and dry.

(m.)

, or to occur (chance).
to bide ones time.

to strike while the iron is hot.
on this occasion.
(f.)

in ones old age.

(f.)

to be in love (with, ).

- to give up the ghost.

to look someone in the eye.

to overlook; to be embarrassed.

12

a stupid person.

or the apple of ones eye.

- to pay close attention.

ones eyes to open: to awake.

to feast ones eyes on something appealing.

to be inattentive.
to look angry.

to be on the brink of tears; to have the eyes filled

with tears.
to throw a glance; to look lustfully.
to fear God.

to cast an angry glance.

to have blurred vision.
to faint.

to fill with tears (eyes).

to look at someone affectionately or
romantically.
to glare furiously.
, out of sight, out of mind.


to be stunned.

to have a longing (to see or meet someone).

to defy openly; to show hostility.
- to stare in perplexity.
to turn away attention from.

to avoid being seen; to slink away.

to change ones position.
to wait for eagerly.

to keep ones eyes closed.

to pass away.

to look at (with admiration); to attend to.

13

the eyes are bigger than the belly.

you are most welcome Also .
to be blind to a reality.

to hold dear; to treat with honour.

to be up the wall.

to be held in high esteem.

to be drunk.

or to have sleepless nights.

to be thoroughly disliked.
(f.)

a problem to befall.

to bring trouble upon.

to do everything to be safe from trouble.

(m.)

to bear in mind.
(f.)

to come suddenly like a storm.

windfallen mangoes: things obtained easily; things

that do not last long.
-
- to beat about the bush.
(m.)

or to repress tears.
(m.)

lit. a flower of the sky: an impossibility.
a world of difference.
(f.)

play with the fire and you will burn

your fingers.
to act peacefully; to pacify.

14

to roll on fire: to suffer torment or distress; to be

consumed with jealousy; to be uneasy.
- lit. enmity between fire and straw: innate hostility.
-
to flare up with anger.

to shut the stable door after the horse

has been stolen.
( ) the Devil take it!

in the future. Also .

, between the devil and the
deep blue sea.
with no fixed abode; without kith or kin.
not to have kith or kin.
/ to make progress.

- or to procrastinate.
- soon.

constant labour leads a man to
progress.
, , ,
sometimes dreams remains unfulfilled.
(f.)
() as you wish.
(m.)

to moisten and leaven flour; to make dough.

to incur a disaster.

,
, used
to refer to something difficult to keep safe from harm.
Literally, if I keep the flour in the house the mouse will eat it, if I
keep it outside the crow will take it.

the innocent are punished with the
guilty.

15

Literally, weevils are crushed together with the flour.

-
to learn on which side ones bread is
buttered on.
lit. like salt in the flour: like a drop in the
ocean.

- to be scattered, confused.
a life free of cares.

Literally, eight days, nine festivals. is used as a suffix in the

names of the days of the week in Hindi.
very cunning, skillful.
day and night.

to conceal oneself.
(m.)

, everyone is different from

everybody else.
Literally, men are different, some are jewels, others gravel.
mans only help is other men.
to treat someone without respect.
(m.)

neither fish nor fowl.

, greed leads to disaster.

to tell half a story; not to tell the whole truth.
midnight.
(f.)

to procrastinate; to make excuses.

achievement of ones goals is the best
achievement.
to preach something one does
not do.

16

everyone seems good to a good man.

-- without any effort; by ones initiative.

to lose ones sense of self-importance.

to be beside oneself.

to be beside oneself with anger.

(f.)

, friends flee when a disaster comes.

a dare-devil.

a bundle of trouble.

(m.)

lit. a stump of an ebony tree: a person of very

dark complexion.
(m.)
, to kill two birds with one stone.

( ) () ? lit.If its the mangoes you want

why count the trees?: dont beat about the bush.
usually, in general.
its generally observed.
in public.

( ) to feel pangs of jealousy; to torture.

to do something without thinking.

(f.)

to raise the voice in anger.

/ to call.

to obey a call.

to see eye to eye.

(m.)

17

to be or fall in love.
(m.)

lit. spitting on the sky brings the
spit to the mouth: he who tries to slander good people ends up
being slandered. Compare with
/
.
to be very skilled in something; to attempt,
or achieve the impossible.
to boast wildly.
to fall (the sky): to befall suddenly (a misfortune).
to be vainglorious; to daydream.
to exalt to the skies.

to achieve the impossible.

to rain incessantly.

to be very crafty.

to create a havoc.

out of the frying pan into the fire.

to rise to the skies; to vie with the skies.
(m.)

a foe pretending to be a friend.

(f.)

or to sigh.

(m.)

an apsara, a divinely beautiful woman.

(f.)

to have the intention of ruining someones

honour.
to try to molest (a woman).

18

- a trifle.

eat no more than you can digest.

-
() to look surprised.

, too much talk for ones age.

- on such a small matter.
despite this.

in the meantime, with this/that.

- an Indian language other than Hindi.

to be over.

- pointless talk.

- to prevaricate.
- to kill time.

- coming from an unknown or dubious place.

- (object) to be removed from its right place.

/ to backbite.

an uncommon event to take place.

lit. a well here and a ditch there: between the

devil and the deep blue sea.
, a completely unexpected disaster.
to throw into disorder.
(m.)

prevention is better than cure.

(f.)

to distribute cardamom: to invite to a wedding.

(m.)

love and cough cannot be hidden.

19

a close friend.

(f.)

- to be completely destitute.

to return evil for evil. Also ,

.

to bring to ruin; to cause strife.

(f.)

an Id moon: something or someone rarely seen.

(m.)

to speak the truth.

to break ones word; to sell ones honour.

to be moody, to whinge.
(f.)

to vex.

to gnaw the nails, to be dumbfounded.

lit. to seize the finger and the wrist

too: to get an inch and try to take an ell.
to make someone dance to ones tune.
to dance at someones bidding.
little finger.

middle finger.
toe.

ring finger.

index finger.

20

to be bored with reading.

well-born, of good or aristocratic family.

of high class or quality.

- easily; gently;repeatedly, speedily.

-

-
to throw into confusion; to overturn.

to vanish.

to vanish, to depart quickly.

quickly-spreading rumour.

lit. to recognise the flying bird: to discern

something from afar.

,
everywhere a man goes.
(m.)

misfortunes are

from sunrise to sunset; all over the world.

(m.)

to live on credit.

lend and lose a friend.

/ to be in a brown study.

to show indifference.
(f.)

all ones life.

21

a guilty person lays the blame on
someone else.
a very dark-coloured person.
A is a pan or skillet; if you turn it over you will see its all black
from being on the fire.
to mislead someone by telling lies.
to strike a backhanded blow.
idiot.

lit. to make the Ganges flow backwards: to go

against traditions, to try to achieve the impossible. Also
.

to mislead.

to breathe ones last.

to give someone a piece of ones mind.

to put different customs and manners into practice.

to fool someone and rob them.

bamboos back to Bareilly: coals to Newcastle.

Just as Newcastle is proverbially associated with coalmines, the
city of Bareilly in North India is known for its abundance in bamboo.

to fall flat on the face; to fall into a trap prepared for
another.
/ to make strenuous efforts to achieve
something.
(m.)
to fulfil ones desires at the expense of
others.
a complete fool.
to act idiotically.
to be a fool.

to make a fool out of.

22

to be deserted (a place).
This expression indicates that in deserted places only owls can be
found (and heard).

or
to be hard of hearing.
to dominate, to excel.

much talk, little action.
-
to rebuke.

noble, belonging to a respectable family.

- to stumble, to falter; to go astray.

(m.)

lit. on which side will the camel sit?: lets

see how things turn out.
Camels always sit in a direction contrary to the wind so as to
protect their eyes and nostrils from the windblown sand.

-
a big job cannot be done in secret.

lit. cumin in a camels mouth: half a mouthful
for a starving man.
Cumin is not enough to feed a camel, hence the metaphor for a
unacceptably insufficient quantity of food.

superficial, specious.

whimsical, superficial things.

to pretend affection.

from the very top; furtively.

union is strength.

23

() to treat without partiality.

, lit. cry with one eye, laugh with

the other: to do something just for show.
- one or two, a few.
one by one.

to be stingy to a penny.

- the days to go by very slowly. Also

.

two heads are better than one.

/ / to double ones earnings.

to exaggerate beyond measure.

one dirty fish spoils

the whole pond.
one swallow does not make a summer.

silence is golden.

one commits a crime and another one
carries the can.
birds of a feather.
, all should be treated equally.
Literally, roti, whether small or big, is from the same griddle.
nonstop.
() - chips of the same block.
to slip away or leave furtively.
to refuse to obey.

an example is better than precept.

killing two birds with one stone.

prevention is better than cure.

- half a dozen.

one swallow does not make a

summer.
one flower does not make a garland.

24

one mouth, two opinions.

two of a trade seldom agree.

or one better than the other.
two heads are better than one.

it takes two hands to clap: it takes two

to start a quarrel.
some, a few.
a couple, a very few.
(f.)

to move heaven and earth.

to sweat from head to heel: to make

herculean efforts.
from head to foot.
to make strenuous efforts.
to be in dire straits.

punctually to the dot.

-

- everyone and his brother.

that is impossible.

you sow what you reap.

- to scold ().

- something that causes aggravation.

(f.)

25

once things are begun
they must be finished no matter what; to achieve something one
must put up with inconveniences.
It literally means ones head is on the mortar so why fear the
pestle. Mortar and pestle are instruments for crushing and grinding
ingredients, commonly used in India.

fools and children tell the truth.

(f.)

secretly.
(f.)

to have self-respect.

neither one nor the other; something endless.

(f.)

a dewdrop, something ephemeral.

to eat very little.


thirst.
(m.)

a few drops of water do not quench

to pull rank on.

adverse fortune.
fool.
(m.)

to know ones place.

to cross ones limits.
-

- to bargain.

- to get rid of something inferior.

26

- to sell off.

different; changed; reversed.

(f.)

scorned.

hell hath no fury like a woman

(f.)

it never rains but it pours.

(m.)

to memorise.

to make an utterance, to start speaking.

to develop a sore throat; the voice to turn hoarse.

in one voice, in tune (with).

to take in a few drops of water.

to be memorised (, person who memorises).

(m.)

to lose heart, to be demoralised; to shirk
responsibilities.
to be a poll bearer.

to be over-crowded (so as to have shoulders

rubbing with one another).
to stand shoulder to shoulder with somebody;
to work together.
(responsibility, etc.) to devolve on, to be shouldered
by.
to shoulder (responsibility, etc.); to welcome
someone with all ones heart.
(f.)

27

a petty thief shouldnt be
hanged.
- to belittle.
Kakdi and khira are both names for cucumber, a staple vegetable
in Indian cuisine.
to be ignorant.

(m.)

/ to beat someone to a pulp.

inexperienced in using English.

to put to shame, to abash.

raw paper; a provisional document.

an inexperienced strategist.

unbaked earthen pot; a vulnerable mind.

to tell a story hard to believe in.

- half-cooked; half-baked.
to prove ineffective.
raw material.

a colour that washes out.

an untrained hand.

immature, vulnerable age.

a budding beauty.

lit. to play with mud marbles: to act in an

inexperienced manner.
to be nobody's fool, to know the tricks of the
trade.
loose tongue.
to awaken someone who has just gone to
sleep.
- unconfirmed.
- to take to task.

28

a rough account book.

loose talk; unconfirmed report.

articles of food not prepared or fried in ghee (as rice,

pulses, etc.).

- to keep away (from), to keep a distance.

-/- quarrelling; bloodshed.
to battle to death.

to add insult to injury.

(m.)

hard days.

to be hard up, to be tight.

to give grudgingly.

to use harsh words.

(f.)

out of the frying pan into the fire.
Literally, fell from the frying pan and fell in the oven.
(f.)
to wag one's tongue, to be chatty.
(m.)

ones honour to increase.

(m.)

to be swept off one's feet.

to take steps/measures; to march quickly; to make

progress.

to revere; to flatter.
to bow ones head; to make a gesture of deference.
to be vainglorious.

to follow in the footsteps (of, ).

29

to be extremely careful.
-- in step; step by step.

to march forward; to step up one's pace.

(f.)

to stare amorously; to cast a side glance.

to cast a side glance; to ogle.
(f.)

to commit suicide by swallowing a small piece of a

diamond.
(f.)
to snub someone.
(m.)

to defraud, tolure.

fraudulent act; deception.

spurious testimony.
(m.)

a cock and bull story; a figment of ones imagination.

(m.)

to spend every penny; to be bankrupt.

to be penniless.

to rise from the grave.

to shriek out suddenly.

to engage in a dangerous venture.

occasionally.
(m.)

to spoil; to undo.

to be spoiled or undone.
(f.)

to escape death by an inch.

30

to hatch a plot against someone.

to escape death, to get a fresh lease of life.

, situations keep changing all

the time.
(f.)

to gird up one's loins; to brace oneself up; to prepare

for action.

to become old or weak.

to be rendered hopeless; to be dispirited, to lose selfconfidence.

to be completely exhausted from work.
to break one's back.

to get ready for; to resolve.

to relax for a while.
(m.)

stoical, forbearing.
It literally means like the leaves of a lotus flower. The lotus is a
symbolic flower in Hinduism and Buddhism. Because it has the
ability to rise from muddy waters pure and unspoilt, it represents
someone who carries on despite adversities.
/ to be extremely happy.
(m.)

think
carefully before you act.
Literally, an arrow shot from a bow doesnt return nor does what
one says.
(f.)
a very critical moment.
until the end of time.

to raise a great commotion.

31

one does the deed and another pays for it.

(m.)

calamity to befall.

to suffer the consequences of ones bad deeds.

(f.)

to change from one side to another; a change to

occur.
to wobble; not to be able to stand still.
(m.)

to pay a debt.

to be in debt.

/ to be in heavy debt.

nowadays.

some time in the future.

having a short existence; young (pejorative); recent.

lit. who has seen tomorrow?: no one knows

what tomorrow brings.
babes and sucklings.
to incite to action.

to have no peace of mind.

to do something without delay.

to have peace of mind.
to be ill-at-ease.
(m.)

to chop off, to cut; to prune.

a master of the art of writing.

by the power of the pen.
to scribble.

to write badly; to be a mere clerk.

32

to write.

to be captivated by someones writing skills.
to write wonderfully.

to strike out or delete what is written.

to work wonders with the pen.
to wield the pen effectively.
put into black and white, written.

to write down, to record in writing.

(f.)

a virgin.
(m.)

the heart to throb out of excitement.

to pull oneself together; to prepare oneself for a

shock or difficulty.
to be terrified.
to suffer taunts and sarcastic remarks.
to suffer extreme agony.
to torment.

to lose all hope, to be completely demoralised.

/ to be fulfilled or gratified.
to weep bitterly.

to repress grief, not to show ones grief.

- ones heart to throb on account of a strong

emotion.
to be dumbfounded; to receive a violent
shock.
the heart to palpitate on account of a strong
emotion.

to express one's inner feelings; to
unburden oneself.
to be deeply wounded.

33

to become stone-hearted; to get ready to

face the worst.
to have the heart rent by deep sorrow.
/ to be overjoyed.

to have one's heart in one's mouth; to be
restless on account of sorrow.
someone or something very dear.
to suffer a heavy emotional shock.

to experience a deep emotional shock.

to be extremely jealous.
(f.)

to set free of the bonds of oath; to perform an act

nominally.
to swear an oath.
nominally.

to violate an oath.

to put under an oath.

to put on oath.

to swear, to take an oath.

really?
(f.)

/ to be defective; to fail.

/ to suffer loss or damage.

to inflict loss.

to leave no stone unturned.

to be compensated or avenged.

to make up the loss; to avenge, to be even (with).

to suffer a loss.
(f.)

to pass a test.

34

(m.)

to laugh boisterously.

to be beyond description.

/ you can take a horse

to the water but you cannot make it drink.
hypocrisy; deception.

to engage in conversation; persuasion, enticement.

() used to refer to something of top quality, as in

: what can you say about the

skill of this poet?
virtually, nominally.
instantly.

to be misled; to veer round.

to be under somebody's commands, to be under the

spell (of).
- challengingly.
,
to talk of chalk and to hear of cheese.

lit. where (is) he and where (am) I: what a

difference between me and him.
(f.)
to tell tales.

to leave someone helpless.

to suffer a great loss.
(m.)

to have an obstacle removed; to be relieved of a

pain.
to be reduced to a skeleton, to wither away; to act as
ahindrance.

35

exact in weight.

to pave somebody's way with thorns.

to sow seeds of distress or misfortune.

a crown studded with thorns: an authority difficult to

wield.
a bed of thorns.
to writhe in pain; to be consumed with jealousy.
to embarrass by flattering exaggeratedly.
(f.)

to waste paper and ink.

a paperboat, something short-lived.

to pursue a useless goal.
(m.)

to fix a problem or to complete a task.

to bite; to sting.

to be irritable, to look daggers.

to give a harsh reply; to fly into a rage.

(m.)

to be hard-hearted.

a beetle-brain; a complete fool.

it is a silly fish that is caught with

the same bait.
a means for deceit.
to be stunned.

to put one's legs in the stocks: to follow a path that

leads to ruin.
to be petrified.
(m.)

/ to twist somebody's ears by way of punishment.

36

/ to outwit; to surpass.

easily misguided; too credulous.

to prick up the ears; to become alert.

to be alarmed.
to pester.

to lend an ear; to pay heed to.
to put on the alert.

to refrain from protesting.

,
to lend an attentive ear.
to listen attentively.

to turn a deaf ear.

to expel someone violently.

to promise never to do a thing again; to repent.

the ears to become sore.

to turn a deaf ear to; to be very negligent or

careless.
to express ignorance; to pretend not to hear.
ones ears to burst because of a deafening noise.
to initiate; to coach.

to go deaf; to be deafened.

to deafen (by excessive noise).

/ to turn a deaf ear.

to imagine that one hears a sound when there is none.

to have pusflowing out of the ear.

to poison somebodys ears, to sow dissent through

gossip.
/ to twist the ear (by way ofwarning or
punishment).
to refuse to pay attention.
( ) to apprise somebody (of something).

37

to be inattentive or negligent.

to listen attentively, to pay heed to.

- to have a veil of absolute secrecy, not to

allow a secret to be known.
(f.)
to whisper; to badmouth someone in a whisper.
(m.)

to harass; to persecute.
(m.)

to disappear.

Camphor oil () changes from solid form to gas, thus

disappearing without leaving a trace.

(m.)

even paradise has its share of fools;

everything has a fault or another.
The city of Kabul has been praised since times immemorial. The
Rigveda calls it a paradise in the mountains, and the Moghul
emperor Babur said If there is a paradise on earth, it is this. This
proverb calls to mind that even in a paradisiac place like Kabul there
are also humble beasts of burden.
(m.)
/ to take control.

() to have control over.

(m.)

mind your own business.

to be of avail; to come into use; to help; to be killed (in

battle).
to prove effective; to succeed.
it is work that makes a workman.

to manage, to do with, to keep the work going.

to put an end to; to destroy; to kill.
to finish a job.

38

to have to do with, to have business with.

to have a purpose served.

to make a mess of a business; to frustrate an

endeavour.
to kill two birds with one stone.
to be busy as a bee.
to shirk work.

to turn to account, to bring into play.

to get busy; to find a job.

to mind one's (own) business.

to have one's purpose served; to have to do a job.

(f.)

to undergo a transformation.
(m.)

the end to come.

/ /

ghost.
or to pass time.
a death cell.

the death-god.

Time personified.

tobe as unwelcome as death.

/ to be at death's door.

jet black.

black law.

as black as a crow.

an unknown or missing person.

carum.

blackmoney.

to give up the

39

a kind of rock-salt.

a cobra; a wicked person.

life imprisonment.
This expression originates in the ancient taboo of the sea in Indian
culture, according to which crossing the seas causes one to be cut
off from the regenerating waters of the river Ganges. Kala Pani (lit.
black water) is the other name of the Cellular Jail, a colonial prison
in the Andaman Islands, where Indians were sent on life
sentencesduring the British regime.
black market.

pitch dark.

to be gone; to acquire a bad name.
evil deeds.

a strong cough.
evil deeds.

nothing sustains in an encounter with

the Devil.
very far.

- to dilly-dally, to prevaricate.
(m.)

/ to keep a distance.

to keep away, to avoid contact.

to reach a destination.

to stay far away; to isolate oneself.

to arrive at a destination.

to step aside, to dissociate.

to be interrupted.
(m.)

to defeat an enemy, to be victorious; to be very

successful.

40

to check-mate.
(f.)

to incite someone to action.

to stubbornly insist on ones opinion.

to influence or control someone.

(f.)

to shut the door.

(f.)

a great loss to befall.

(f.)

to fix instalments.
by instalments.

by instalments.
(f.)

a fortunate person.
an unlucky person.

, to one, fortune is
mother, to another its stepmother.

/// to have a favourable turn of
fortune.
/ to have a sudden change in one's luck.
to fall into adversity.

to have a run of good luck.

to test/try one's luck.

fortune to turn its back upon.

(m.)

to tell a tale; to cause strife.

to put in a nutshell.

/ to put an end to a quarrel.

(m.)

41

to slander.

to lead someone to ruin; to destroy someones

reputation.
to be in dire straits.
(m.)

may he be consumed by worms! (curse)

a bookworm. Also .
(m.)

to sling mud: to slander.

to get restless.

to be eaten up by worms.

to rot; tosuffer for ones sins.

(f.)

to suffer a great loss.
(f.)

- /
fully equipped; all ready.
(f.)

to have influence over someone.

to unlock a door.

to lock a door.
(m.)

to dig a well, to lay a trap.

lit. to come back from the well feeling

thirsty: to be disappointed in spite of having reached a goal.
to incur great trouble.

lit. to put bamboo in a well: to do something

futile.
to be out of ones senses because of intoxication.
This idiom literally refers to the effect that poisonous water can
have on someone who drinks it.

42

to speak in an extremely low tone of voice.

some.

somewhat; to some degree.

to do something wrong or forcefully.

something completely different; the complete
opposite.
, ,
to have some
deficiency at either end.
/ to belittle; to regard as useless.
to have no say.

to be at a loss.

not to be able to make heads or tails of.

come what may.

to assume airs.

something unusual to be bound to happen.

to be significant; something unusual to be imminent.

(m.)

/
lit. a dog
will never straighten its tail: natural features persist forever.
to livea dog's life.
dog-sleep.

to die a miserable death.

the dog barkswhile the elephant

passes by.
lit. a dog doesnt digest ghee: a lowly man
who becomes important begins to treat others as lowly.
to go berserk.
(m.)

/ to get sulky, to begrudge.
to be inflated (with joy); to become fat.

43

(m.)

a blessing in disguise.
(f.)

lit.to break ones chair: to be lazy.

to receive with respect; to honour (by offering a chair).

- family tree.

is all going well?

it was fortunate that

everything else is going well (used at the end of a

letter).
(f.)
to lose a wrestling bout.

to win a wrestling bout.

to wrestle.
(m.)

to depart.
(m.)

to spoil.

every dog has its day.

(m.)

someone with limited knowledge or experience.

(f.)

to cast off the slough; to assume one's true colours.

to take on a new slough; to metamorphose, to

assume new colours.
(f.)
to vomit.
(m.)

to make a bad situation even worse.

44

This idiom conveys the image of someone who has (scabies)

on top of (leprosy).
(m.)

nooks and crannies.

to seek every nook and corner.

- from every nook and cranny.
to feel abashed.
(f.)

to be under pressure.

(m.)
lit. to break up a press to make a
mallet: to lose much and gain little.
a slave.
(m.)

a crow will always be harsh-spoken: a

harsh man will always speak harshly.
,
a dirty fish

contaminates the whole pond.
a leopard cannot change its spots.
Literally, a crow will not become a heron by washing.
(f.)
to be indigent.

of absolutely no avail; utterly insignificant.

- dirt cheap.

dirt cheap, almost free.

to consider as worthless/as of no avail.
to go very cheap; to lose all respect.

utterly indigent.

to payoff every farthing.

to save up every farthing; to bevery miserly.

to repay to the last farthing.

45

a penny saved is a penny earned.
to misfire, to hit off the mark.
very little.

not to have a farthing.

not worth a farthing.

national anthem.
(m.)

mutual promise.

true to one's word.

to make a firm promise.
to pledge one's word.

who knows?
(m.)

moment by moment, gradually.

( ) for just a moment.
in a moment.

for just a moment.

(m.)

to smash to pieces.

to be packed to the full.

(f.)

to knock; to make a clatter.

(f.)

to throw cold water on; to keep in suspense.

46

to toil continuously.

to erect; to raise a question; to instigate; to fix.

a blunt answer or refusal.
stagnant water.

uncooked or half-cooked lentils.

- instantly; standing a long while.
(m.)

/ to draw a line.
a breach to develop.

- correspondence.

he has adjusted to life here.

(f.)

to spread rumours.

() to inform (of, ).

to search (for, ), to trace something missing.

to pay heed to; to look after; to enquire; to visit; to

account for.
(m.)
to be crazy (about).
(m.)

to become curved; to be vanquished.

to slap the arms: to assume a challenging posture, to

challenge to a duel.
to joggle; to make a curve.

to hold water; to bear examination.

a plain-speaking man.

genuine, straightforward dealings.

47

good and bad, genuine and fake.

good wages, good work.

to distinguish good from bad.
a good coin.

to speak candidly, to rebuke.

to speak abusively or harshly.
(m.)

to be forgotten, to escape memory.

to occur (to, ), to seem.

to form an idea, to build castles in the air.

to give no thought (to, ).

to be always thinking of something.

to slip from mind.

beyond imagination.
(m.)

at ones own expense.

to be spent.

to bear an expense.
to be spent.

to enter as debit.
(m.)

or to snore.
to sleep soundly.
(m.)

- the villain (story, film).

(f.)

( ) to throw into confusion.

( ) or to be in confusion.
(f.)

48

to bridge a gap.

a gap to exist (between).

(f.)

a curse on this life!

its of no use at all.
to reduce to dust.

to lick the dust, to abase oneself.

to sift dust: to toil for no purpose.

he knows nothing at all.

lit. thrown dust doesnt conceal the

moon: slander has no effect on a good man.
(m.)
to caricature; to make fun.
(f.)

to be confined to bed.
to be ill.

to be bedridden.
to make up a bed.
(m.)

to open an account.

to commence dealings (with).

to debit to the account (of).
nm./v.

Hobson's choice.
to defraud.

- well nourished.

to make a living.

() to be concerned or uneasy.

to squander ones wealth and resources.

to endure the cold.

49

(m.)

- ruin of a family.

- search of a house.
(m.)

or to feel rancorous or jealous (of, ).

to dismiss, to reject; to strike off (a name).

(f.)

to beat black and blue.

to skin; to flay.

to beat black and blue.

to inflict severe physical punishment.
to peel off the skin, to flay.
(f.)

an easy undertaking, a simple job. Also

.

or especially.
(f.)

to make a hash of.

to be extremely delicate.
to hatch a plot, to conspire.
greying hair.

mixed language, jargon.

to do something contrary to
common sense.
a task that seems to have no end.
Birbal was an advisor in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.
This idiom comes from the following story: one day the emperor
promised to pay a reward to a Brahmin if he stood in a frozen pond
all night. The Brahmin did it and the next day the emperor asked him

50

how he managed to endure the cold and the Brahmin answered that
a faint glow coming from the palace gave him comfort, so the
emperor refused to reward him because he considered that
cheating. Birbal was disappointed and for five days he didnt set foot
in the durbar, during which time he was cooking his kichdi. The
emperor visited Birbal and saw that a pot of kichdi had been placed
a meter away from the fire. The emperor asked How can a pot of
kichdi cook a meter away from the fire? and Birbal replied If
someone can get warm a mile away from a fire I can also cook my
kichdi a meter away from the fire too!
(f.)
to serve, to attend to; to give a beating.
(f.)

to make fun of.

lit. the angry cat scratches the pillar:

anger is often vented on one not responsible.
(f.)
very cheaply.

something ruined.

a difficult matter or task.

(m.)

to be shattered (to pieces); to split up.

(f.)

to take offence; to hold a grudge.

God preserve (me).

divine wrath.

no one knows when, how and why

God gives punishment.

to kick the bucket.

with much prayer, with great difficulty.

God bless!

51

God forbid.

God forbid.

to be accepted into or allowed to return to

the social life of ones community.
Literally, ones hookah to open. The hookah is believed to have
originated in India and the practice was very popular during the
Mughal era so much so that smoking hookah was a matter of
prestige.

bounteous, spending liberally.

exposed; open.
to give a free hand.

robust.

to be open-handed, to be generous.

/// openly, publicly; unhesitatingly.

an open door invites a saint.
open-hearted.

heartily, liberally.
(f.)

a matter of choice.
happily, cheerfully.

/
to tread on air; to be
in the seventh heaven.

/
to exult, to tread on air.

to be terrified.
(m.)

the four corners of the world.

(m.)

to establish oneself.

52

to overexert oneself.
(m.)

to become enraged.

/ the blood to boil, to be in a rage.

to murder, to kill; to squander lavishly.
family feeling.

blood is thicker than water.

blood circulation.

bloodthirsty.

blood for blood, revenge for blood.

to shed a stream of blood.
a massacre.

/ to be in deep trouble.

to suppress one's anger.
-/ bloodshed; massacre.

to be blood-guilty/blood-stained.

to suck the blood of; to exploit.

one's blood to freeze.

ones blood to freeze; to lose sense of self-respect;

to be bereft of passion.
to toil in the sweat of one's brow.
hard-earned money.

to lose all sense of self-respect.

to lack natural feeling.
(m.)

to be in somebodys camp.
to encamp.
(m.)

- lightly, casually.

to have a business accomplished.

53

a person's apple-cart to be upset.

to upset the apple-cart.

to regard as a very easy task.

an almost accomplished job.

- well-versed in the ways of life.

- having diverse experiences of life; sexually experienced.

or to risk ones life.
(f.)

look after yourself.

in good condition, safely, peacefully.

it is well.

it was well (that, ).

(m.)

,
someone who


changes his principles depending on the circumstance.
Jamuna (
) is the largest tributary river of the Ganges.

to let slip through one's fingers, to suffer a loss.

to cast pearls before swine.
Literally, to cause perfume to be smelled by a rustic (person).
penny-wise and pound-foolish.
(m.)

a terrible thirst.

its extremely hot.

(or ) youre looking splendid.

(m.)

54

with a gulp, all at once.

(m.)

/ to achieve a resounding victory; to accomplisha

difficult job.
(f.)
to dance to music.
to beat.
(f.)

to gossip.
(m.)

- to eat voraciously.
(f.)

a selfseeker.

a slave to one's purpose.

a self-interested friend.
in short
(f.)

/ to behead; to harass.

to yield; to be ashamed.

not to utter a word in protest; to grin and bear it.

to catch hold of one's neck; to insult.

the head to hang down through shame.

to catch hold of the neck, to hold by the neck; to

insult.
/ to submit(somebody) to grave injustice,
tocut somebodys throat.
to assign a difficult job.

to have complete sway; to control
(somebody).
to be embroiled in a mess; tobe in somebody's grip.
to throttle; to wring theneck.

55

to behead.

to hold by the neck; to humiliate.

hot news, current rumour.

to speak with passion.

lit. the wife of a poor man is
everybodys sister-in-law: everyone wants to take advantage of a
poor man.
a poor man's curses.
humble dwelling (used to refer to ones house).
the poor, the poverty-stricken (class).
kind to the poor.

kindness towards the poor.

(m.)

to go crazy, to tear one's collar to pieces (out of

craziness).

to ponder over ones deeds or sins.
(m.)

to carry out an abortion.

to become pregnant.

to misunderstand.
(m.)

to be beheaded; to suffer a heavy loss.

to recover from a vocal problem.
to strangle.

to liberate or to be liberated.
to moisten the throat.

to throttle; to choke; to pressure somebody.

56

to catch hold by the neck; to harass; (food) to produce

irritation in the throat.
/ to develop a sore throat.
to get entangled in a mess.
to bellow.

to have the throat choked through emotion.

to slaughter; to torture slowly.
to be very dear.

A is a garland, an object placed around someones neck as a

sign of deference.
to be submerged chin-deep.
to foist upon.

to accept a responsibility begrudgingly.

he is doing very well.

a wealthy person.

one who keeps his feelings hidden.

clandestinely.
(f.)

to have one's pocket picked.

/ to pick pocket.

to pocket, to misappropriate.
a wealthy person.

to remove misunderstanding or prejudice; to open

one's purse.
to tie the nuptial knot; to splice.
to make bad blood, to harbor ill feeling.
to make a note of, to keep in mind.

to be lost, to suffer loss or damage.

(m.)

57

to belittle.
(f.)

, no progress has been made.

to miss a train.

times of crisis, trying times.

hard-earned money. Also .

to be very thick; to take a strong intoxicant (as ).

times of crisis, difficult days.
in a crisis.

to sing ones own praises.

(m.)

to perish.

to become emaciated.
to sulk.

to boast.
(f.)

to endure abuse.

/ exchange of insults.

to stoop to the use of abusivelanguage.

to abuse, to call names.

- counting thoroughly.

- to proceed very cautiously; to walk

gracefully.
- to abuse profusely.
- exact(ly); in a limited number.
-
a few; selected few.
(m.)

58

-
flush or turn pale.
(m.)

to change colour like a chameleon, to

national anthem.
(m.)

/ a mere/false threat; bluffing.

(m.)

to swallow a camel and strain at a

gnat.
Literally, to eat jaggery and abstain from gulgula. Jaggery is a
cane sugar consumed in Asia and gulgula is a kind of sweet
preparation. The idea behind this idiom is that someone who
abstains from eating gulgula might as well eat it since he is
consuming something just as sweet.
to make a hash of; to disturb.
if you can do something with love why
do it harshly?
Literally, if you can give jaggery why give poison?

to start by caressing and end by beating.

Literally, to show jaggery and give (hit with) a lump of earth.

/ good manners cost nothing.
Literally, if you dont give jaggery give/say something just as
sweet.

disciples can surpass their

,
masters.
Literally, the teacher was jaggery, the disciple became sugar.

(f.)
a diamond in rags.

lit. rags mustnt be thrown away

for fear of lice: a job shouldnt be abandoned on account of a minor
difficulty.
(m.)
to cause confusion.
(m.)

59

to get the hang of.

(m.)

/ to give vent to one's rage.

to be angry (with, ).

to make someone angry.

or to be quick-tempered.

something that defies description.

(m.)

a good thing is easily recognisable.

(m.)

to get to the heart of the matter.

(f.)

something inconceivable or unlikely to be gotten.

is the cluster fig tree, also known as Indian fig tree. Its fruit is
hard to come by because the fig is covered in wasps and to make
the fig fit for consumption is a laborious task.
(m.)

when bulls fight, crops suffer: said
when one suffers because of someone elses mistake.
(m.)
to treat someone like a stranger.
(m.)

/ to succeed by manipulation.
(m.)

to dive; to be deceived.

to cause someone to dive; to deceive.

to dip, todive, to have a plunge; to give a slip.

to dive (in a river).
(f.)

60

in the lap; very young.

to give away for adoption.

to be blessed with a child; to fill the lap of a woman with

auspicious articles (like cocoanut, etc.).
lit. sitting in the lap, finger in the eye:
to be cruel to be kind.
to adopt (a child).

to lose ones only child.
(m.)

() lit. a lump of excrement: a good-for-nothing

fellow.
a complete idiot.

as if.
(m.)

a revolving door.
to form a circle.

to remain silent; to be absent (when one should be

present).
to slip away.
(f.)

() to shoot someone.
to hell with ().

to play at marbles.
(m.)

to take note of; to ponder seriously.

to be pondered over.

(m.)

61

an hour ago.
(m.)

or to dwell in the heart.

(f.)

a wrist watch.

the appointed time to pass away; to miss an opportunity.

a short space of time.
() for a moment.
in a trice.

- every now and then.

to count every moment restlessly; to await.

(m.)

- to get into a predicament.

(m.)

lit. Father Adam in this house

is unique: everything is strange here.
lit. ones house burns and someone
gets warm: ones misfortune makes another one happy.
an entire household.
to have no one for company.

the grass is greener on the other side.
(restricted to) within the household; privately.
to be all square.
to run a household.

to harm oneself and behave frivolously.

sitting at home: easily.

to be prosperous.
Its literal translation is the Ganges to flow at home, conveying the
image of unending domestic prosperity and bliss.
(m.)

62

experienced much.
(f.)

to have seen many a harbour: to have

, to fall into someone's clutches.

, or to bide ones time for an ambush.

to lie in ambush.
to play tricks.

pain.
(m.)

its the sufferer alone who knows the

to wound.

to be wounded.

or to heal (a wound).

an old wound to be reopened.

() to rub salt in a wound.

(f.)

, or to do something pointless.
(f.)

to be choked with emotion; to be tongue-tied for

embarrassment.
(m.)

? lit. where did the ghee do? To the khichdi:

something has been used correctly.
/ to light up ghee lamps: to celebrate a
success with a party.
Ghee is the most expensive Indian cooking medium, so one would
only use it to light lamps once in while.
/ to be hand in glove with; to be in intimate
association.

one should be contented with whatever one
gets.

63

Literally, thick ghee, a fistful of chickpeas.

to be very prosperous.

to cut corners so as to achieve ones

goal.
It literally means to extract ghee with a bent finger. When ghee
sticks to hard-to-reach surfaces of its container one needs to scoop
it out with a bent finger.

- to beat about the bush.

(f.)

to feel giddy.

-
to speak intimately or amorously.

- to be on intimate terms.

(m.)

to suffer abuse in silence.

(f.)

to accept a bribe.

to bribe.
(m)

a fool.
(m.)

() to choke, to strangle.
(m.)

to sleep in peace, to be relieved of care.

The idiom literally means to sleep after selling a horse and it is
probably connected with the fact that in ancient times Marwari or
Malani horses were bred and ridden by aristocrats and warriors.
These horses, noted for their bravery and loyalty, were very
expensive.
to hasten back, to be in haste.

64

to put a spanner in the works.

to cure.

hale and hearty.

to recover.
(m.)

/ to fall into the clutches (of).

to be spared from the clutches of.

(m.)

scroundrel.
(f.)

an unfounded rumour; gossip.

A was a place where smokers of (an intoxicating drug

made of opium) would gather and gossip.
(m.)
to raise a fund by donation.
or to contribute, to subscribe.

an affectionate term for the maternal uncle.

as beautiful as the moon (esp. used for face).
(m.)

to be tricked/hoodwinked.

to trick; to hoodwink.

to dodge; to play a trick; to hoodwink.

(m.)

to suffer from vertigo, to feel giddy.

/ to take rounds, to revolve, to whirl.

to go round, to revolve; to take a circuitous route; to

be confused.

65

to play a trick.

to whirl round; to wander about.

/ to be deceived; to be in a mess; to suffer

harassment.

you reap what you sow.
It literally means put a morsel in the mill and you will get wheatmeal.
to involve in a mess; to dodge.
(f.)

to work a mill, to do hard labour.

/ to be sandwiched between two

afflictions.
to grind; to labour; to be under imprisonment.
turning millstones: the world.
(f.)

to inflict a loss or damage.

to suffer a loss or damage.

to utter harsh words; to talk conceitedly.

to launch an invasion, to charge.
to have a run of good luck.

to ride on; to overpower; to trample down.

(m.)

the innocent shouldnt be

punished along with the guilty.
Literally, weevils arent to be ground together with chickpeas.
Compare with
under .
(m.)

to make a thorough search.

66

- to speak indistinctly, slowly, hesitantly,

affectedly or haughtily.
(m.)
to tan; to cure.

a false coin; a worthless thing.

(f.)

to beat black and blue; to flay, to skin.

to suffer a flaying to save a penny: to

be excessively tightfisted.
a self-seeking friend.
Chamar is the name of a Hindu caste of untouchables who
traditionally work as tanners. This idiom refers to the interest of a
person of that caste in animal skin, which is vital to his work.
fair-complexioned.
thick-skinned.
(m.)

to be swindled.
to defraud.

to be defrauded.
(m.)

to spin a long story.

(m.)

to touch a persons feet in respect.

In India it is common for people to touch the feet of their parents
and older relatives as a sign of respect.
to be very reverential.
/
surrender with deference.
(m.)

to make a respectful offering to; to

to dispose of; to send away.

shrewd and dexterous.
to slip away.

67

nothing succeeds like success.

a clever/cunning fellow.

to the best of ones ability.

he cant manage to eat another puri.
to leave, to slip away.

to make good progress; to be excessive.

to die (euph.)

I cant manage to read his writing.

(m.)

piece of the moon: a lovely or handsome person.

to become bald-headed.

/
lit. to spit/throw dust at the moon: to
slander the unassailable (and have one's own image tainted).
even the moon has spots: no one is without his
faults.
-
a face as beautiful as the moon.
() to have a splendid appearance; to be raised in
a high position.
(f.)
short-lived happiness, good fortune or success.
(f.)

hes prospering these days.

a bribe.

rupee coins; money in general.

halcyondays.

to mint money; to make a fortune.

to make a lot of money.

to devour a book.

68

(f.)

to expose, to put to shame.

/ to have a widow as wife.

to sleep carefree.

to cut one's coat according to the cloth.

to send the cap/hat round.

lit. to put ones feet out beyond ones

shawl: to undertake more than ones abilities or resources allow.
(f.)

to make somebody dance to one's tune.
to wind (a watch, etc.).

to be under the sway of, to be dominated by.

to learn the basics about something.

to exchange glances, to meet eye with eye; to

come face to face.
to be face to face.
people in general.

in public.
a short distance.

to be superior to; to excel; to be ahead of.

/ to be taken in a coffin.
to become public.

to have a feather added to one's cap; to be very

successful.
short-lived.
having a fleeting existence.

a fleeting existence; a nine days' wonder.

very shortly.
(f.)

69

to be bed-ridden.

to be confined to bed, to be taken ill.

to suffer a prolonged illness, to be bed-ridden for a

long time.
to be reduced to a skeleton.
(f.)

to play a trick; to make a (deft) move.

to miss the target, to make an unsuccessful move.

to fall into someone's trap; to be a victim of one's

trick.
(m.)
to satisfy ones desire.

to be satisfied (a wish).
to become well-liked.
with relish.
(f.)

where there is a will, there is a way. Also

.

like water off a duck's back; incorrigible, shameless.

-
well made up; looking smart and attractive.

to fall for the slightest temptation.

-
to curry favour.
clay.

everybody befriends an important man.
(f.)

a term of abuse.

lit. birds milk: something impossible.
(m.)

() to be bored (with), indifferent (to).

70

to overturn; to vanquish.
to give ones mind.

/ to be impressed upon.
to be distracted.
to distract.

to be distracted or indifferent.
( )
lose.
(m.)

heads, I win, tails you

or to draw or paint a picture; to take a photo.

to take a photo.

coloured picture; film in colour.

(m.)

to be in tatters.

- to be torn to shreds, to be tattered.

(m.)

to put out the lamp.

a lamp to be put out; light to be gone.
at dusk, at the time when lamps are lit.
see .

nearer the church, farther from heaven.

to light one's path.
to put out the lamp.

to search with a lamp, to search with care.

may you live long!

(f.)

to cause to admit defeat.

to utter a cry (as of helplessness or capitulation), to

admit defeat.

71

(f.)

lit. to look for meat in a kite's nest: to

seek for something in a place where it isnt likely to be found.

(f.)

to pinch.

in a trice, easily.

a pinchful; a very small quantity.

to make a caustic remark.

to make a sarcastic remark; to taunt.

in a trice.

to accomplish something in no time; to treat like

a joke.
(f.)

to be under one's thumb, to be under complete

control (of).

(m.)

general election.

to win an election.

to fight an election.

flattery.
(f.)

absolute silence to prevail.

to break the ice.

to remain silent.

(m.)

to kiss.

(m.)

lit. to be drowned in a palmful of water:

to die of shame.

72

to lose self-control even on slight

intoxication.

c
to be in great distress.

(m.)

- go to hell!

/ to be damned, to go to hell.

to come out of the frying pan intothe

fire.

(m.)

lit. the mouse dies and the cat

celebrates: someones misfortune brings joy to someone else.
(m.)
to be downcast.

tension to bewritten on the face.

the face to glow up, to cheer up.

/ to turn pale, to lose lustre.

to grow lustreless, to be put out ofcountenance.

to growanaemic; to lose lustre.

/ ones face to lose

colour.
to maintain ones composure, to show
nofacial signs of tension.
to be struck with panic; tolose colour, to be
disheartened.
to have the gallowsin one's face.
to have a sinister appearance.
(f.)
to get (someone, ) to hold his tongue.
hold your tongue.
(f.)

to appear (an injury).

73

to strike a blow; tolaunch an attack.

to receive a blow; to be wounded.

to suffer one blow after another.

to exchange blows.
(m.)

lit. tell the thief to

steal and tell the good man to stay awake: to sow hostility between
two parties.
, - bad habits are hard to break.
(f.)

- a very close bond.

to jump out of one's skin.

(m.)

- tactical moves.

-
not to remember anything at all.

to be at one's wit's end; to be demoralised.

to outwit; to demoralise.
(f.)

pearls before swine.

Literally, jasmine oil on a moles head. Jasmine oil is very
expensive and in India it is used in religious ceremonies.
(f.)
- to punish someone.

to be in a helpless situation.
is the ceremony performed on the sixth day of child-birth, so
perhaps this idiom literally to remember the milk of chhathi
suggests the recollection of a time of bliss and oblivion.
(m.)

74

lit. not to have even a thatched roof to live

under: to be poor as a church mouse.
to bestow an unexpectedly large fortune.
(f.)

lit. to fill a sieve with water: to attempt to do

the impossible.

to be mutually estranged.
(f.)

to provide shelter/patronage to.

to keep at a distance.

to be under the protection of.

to keep away from, to avoid someone.

(f.)

/ (said of female breasts) to protrude; youthful

curves to be formed.
to be affected by strong emotions.
to be overwhelmed by strong feelings.
to be unsympathetic, heartless.

to curb ones feelings; to restrain oneself.

a heavy burden.

to open ones heart.

to have a heart of steel; to be puffed up with

joy.
to be tortured by constant sorrow.

to have a heart-sore, to suffer because of grief or

jealousy.
to unburden oneself.
to relieve oneself of strong emotions; to let off steam.
to feel assured.

75

to make a statement with complete
confidence.
to face something with complete self-assurance.
/ to have one's heart in one's
mouth.

-
the heart to palpitate through apprehension.
to stalk, to strut.

to feel very sore, to be fed up.

to prepare one's heart to face the worst.

to overpower; to pester constantly.

/ to carry one's belongings in one's

post-mortem journey; to be too attached to worldly belongings.
to endure patiently; to curb ones feelings.
to be large-hearted, generous.
(m.)

freedom of the press.

in print.
(f.)

to spend a holiday.
(f.)

() to stab.
(f.)

contagious disease.

(m.)

a paradise in a wilderness.

is the planet Mars and it also means well-being and

auspiciousness.
(m.)

76

-- an emotional wound.
(f.)

to leave a place, to leave space.

- in every place.
(f.)

to root out; to destroy completely.

to cut the root and water the leaves.

/ to undermine; to inflict heavy damage.

/ to strike deep roots; to establish; to consolidate

(oneself).
-/
root and branch; thoroughly.
to cause a total transformation.

, lit. to cut the root from

beneath and put water from above: to be two-faced.
(m.)
to waste one's life.

existing from lifetime to lifetime.

- a born idiot.

hereditary.

or at the proper moment.

(f.)

oral, unwritten (as of agreement).

sharp-tongued.

sweet-tongued.

bold only in speech.

to smack the lips, to have a sweet tooth.

to say one thing and mean another.
to have a sweet tooth.
to speak out.

77

to be busy (the tongue).

to whisper.

to use foul language.

or to keep quiet.
to taste.

to utter, to mention.

to be the subject of a talk.

, or to change ones tune.

to give ones word.

(something) to be known by heart.

(f.)

three plus one equals four.

(m.)

times to turn radically; bad times to come.

to make a thorough search.
to acquire experience.

to be very experienced.

/ the tide to take a turn.

/ good old days to be over.

beaten in the struggle of life.

to have/keep an ear to the ground.
trials of time.

to be affected by the (changing) times, to

adapt to the times.
to gowith the tide.
(f.)

/ to throw flat.

to hit the ground.

to prepare the ground (for).

78

to wander around.

to walk above the earth, to be vainglorious.

to be bashful; to be very embarrassed.
(f.)

to yawn.
(f.)

or to defeat.

little by little. Also .

not in the slightest.

just come over here.

- a little sugar.

(rhetorical) are you telling me (that)?
(f.)

more than needed.

(m.)

you cant live in Rome and fight

with the Pope.
Literally, Its not right to live in the water and fight with the
crocodile.

to incur difficulties.

/ to add fuel to the fire, to fan the flame.

to lay to the ashes.

- to inflict a slow painful death.

-
fretting and fuming.

-
to make caustic and stinging remarks.
to add insult to injury.

as soon as possible.

79

(f.)

to hurry.

haste makes waste.

as soon as possible.
(f.)

/ youth to be on the decline; to age.

the time of youthful merriment.
untroubled sleep.

youth to make an appearance; to be affected by

youthful lust.
youth knows no bounds.
youth to be in full bloom.
(m.)

to dip one's pen in gall.

to speak maliciously.

to make something bitter.

a bitter disagreeable phenomenon, a mouthful of

poison.
one who incites quarrels or divisions.
to spread (poison).

to suppress rage, to tolerate humiliation.

to treat with poison.

to be most unwelcome.

at the original place.

as far as possible.
here and there.

no smoke without fire. Also
.
(f.)

everywhere.

80

in place and out of place: appropriate and inappropriate.

to be struck by cold.
to be felt (cold).
(f.)

- sorcery, witchcraft.

to be dispelled (charm), to bedisenchanted.

to cast a spell on, to bewitch.
to come under the spell (of).
(f.)

to be on the verge of death.

mortal.

to be under the shadow of death, to be in dire

straits.
not to spare oneself (efforts).
to labour hard.

to pester constantly.
to give up ones life.

while theres life theres hope.

(f.)

(postposition) towards.

who knows? (also )

- willy-nilly.
who knows?

to waste, to ruin.

to be wasted/ruined.

- to weep bitterly.

81

(f.)

to know death in life, to undergo

tremendous hardships in life.
to be tired of life.
(f.)

to checkmate; to be placed in a stalemate.

to be checkmated; to be in a stalemate.
(m.)

( )
the heart to be set on (somebody or
something); to fall in love with, to be fascinated by.
to be fed up (of); to get disgusted (with).
to be bored; not to be able to concentrate (on).
to feel nervous and restless.
to get bored.

to lose heart.

to muster courage, to prepare oneself for any

eventuality.
to set ones heart on, to long (for).
to feel scared.
courageous.

(a desire) to remain unfulfilled.

to fulfill a desire.

to treat with kindness.

to repress a desire; to practise self-denial.

to be disenchanted/disgusted.
freely; to one's heart's content.
to feel nervous.

to desire, to long (for).

if you so desire.

to shirk (work); to cast a spell (upon), to charm, to

fascinate.

82

to lose heart.

to be grieved, to have a sore heart.

to get in one's hair; to plague.

heart and soul; whole-heartedly.

to make a serious attempt.

will all ones might.

to give up ones life.

to kill.

in ones inmost soul, to oneself.

during the life-time of; as long as one is living.

to suffer deathin life, to endure extreme miseryor

anguish.
may you live long!
(m.)

- autobiography.

() to spend ones life.

(m.)

a very short period of time.
(f.)

to move at the speed of a tortoise.

a sluggish person.
(m.)

to raise a shoe in order to beat someone.

mutual hitting by shoes.

to set people together by the ears.

to treat with contempt.

to care a fig for.

to be beaten by shoes.

to lick somebody's shoe: to beservile.

83

/ to be beaten by shoes.

/ to give a shoe-beating; to humiliate.

to beat with shoes.

to beat with shoes.

to resort to the application of shoe force.

(f.)

lit. it concerns my shoes: for all I care.

to subjugate.
in custody.

to be subdued.

- under consideration.
(m.)

or to endure imprisonment.
to suffer imprisonment.
(f.)

to occur (in the mind).

to understand; to take to one's heart.

as it was, the one and the same; intact.

as well as maybe; somehow or other.
(m.)

total amount.

- to concoct a scheme.
(m.)

() to gain strength.

with force or pressure; with emphasis.

by force, intensely.
(f.)

84

a hen-pecked husband.
(m.)

general knowledge.

please help yourself to some more.

unaltered, the very same; in its entirety.

to keep as it was, intact, safe.
as soon as, just as if.

(m.)

quarrelsome; trouble-maker.

to ask for trouble; to get oneself in a mess.

(m.)

to raise a flag.

to come off with flying colours; to achieve a victory; to

set up a flag.

to lower a flag; to be in mourning.
to hoist a flag; to come out with flying colours.
a nodding acquaintance.
(f.)

- stop talking nonsense.

(f.)

left with no alternative, under compulsion.

to be a fool for one's pains, to be engaged in a futile

work.
(m.)
-/- dispute, quarrel.
to kick up a row.

85

to bury the hatchet.

to become aggressive.

to get embroiled in a dispute; to pick up a fight.

apple of discord.

a person difficult to deal with.

is a bramble, the name given to any prickly shrub. in

particular is a small variety of , the jujube, which is covered with
long, sharp thorns. Hence the analogy of an intractable person.
(m.)
all in a moment.
(f.)

() to feel drowsy.
or to doze off.
(m.)

a troublesome person.

This idiom is cognate with . is a shrub or bush.

(f.)

() to scold.

-
sweeping and cleaning.

(m.)
to be swept off or ruined.
to finish.
to be done with it.
(m.)

to slap violently.
(f.)

to break the ice.

(m.)

a compulsive liar.

86

to build a bridge of lies: to tell one lie after
another.

to give false evidence.

- false.

-
falsehood; deceitfully; in fun.

- partly true and partly false, a mixture of fact and fiction.

/ to add fabrication to fact; to make false

complaints.

(m.)

a consummate liar.

comes from a Persian word meaning elder; the expression

conveys the image of an old man who has been telling lies all his
life.

uselessly, needlessly.

a liar is damned to ultimate exposure.

/ to expose a lie and humiliate the liar; to

call off one's bluff.

to be damned (the liar).

falsely, as a formality.

an elephant to sway at ones gate: to live in
luxury.
(f.)
to carry out (a task) with speed and pleasure.
to gain momentum.
(f.)

, lit. to live in a hut and dream of

palaces: to build castles in the air.
(f.)
to beg; to seek a favour.

to give away, to donate.

87

(f.)

or () to fix the gaze on, to aim at; to look for

support.
(m.)
to be penniless.
- a little.

- a short answer; a blunt refusal.

-
to be speechless from embarrassment.
- powerless or insignificant.

poor, of no worth or account (person).

not to take any notice (of, ).

one ready to work too hard for little reward.

a slow or ineffective procedure.
worthless, trashy.
(f.)

equal, comparable.

or , to wander aimlessly or in a wretched

state.
(f.)

or to hunt or to shout from

shelter; to be an unseen enemy.
to sit behind a screen, to act secretly.
or idem.
to relieve oneself.
to defecate.

to wish to defecate.
(f.)

not to move, or to yield the slightest bit; (a

situation) to be unchangeable.

88

(f.)

to interfere (in, ).
to shake a leg.

to cripple, to make ineffective; to murder (a language).

to fail from fatigue (the legs).

to stretch out ones legs, to be at ease.

(m.)

- when three go together there is trouble.

(f.)

to open the purse, to spend money.

not to have a penny.
- (f.)

- to screech, to babble.

- not to be able to sustain an effort.

(f.)

or to insist (upon a viewpoint); to be stubborn.

to look askance or with displeasure.

something difficult; a challenge.
(f.)

to expose publicly.

to insult; to humiliate.

(f.)

to feel cooled; to feel comforted.

to cool off (enthusiasm).

lit. let it cool and eat it: be patient.

89

to pacify; to put out, to extinguish.

to be pacified, to be subdued or tamed; to lose

enthusiasmor warmth; to be extinguished.
cool, dispassionate temperament.
dispassionate voice, unemotionalway of speaking.

to be put out/extinguished, to passaway; to be cold,

unresponsive.
to heave a sigh.
- quietly; before it is too late; while it is cool.
/ coolly, dispassionately.

snow, frost.
(f.)

to be baffled.

- aghast.
(m.)

to laugh, to make fun.

to joke.
(f.)

to be reduced to a skeleton.

to freeze out.
(m.)

to be branded, labelled.
stamped.

- by fits and starts, spasmodically.

(m.)

to burst into laughter, to laugh aloud.

90

with an explosion of laughter.

- from place to place, here and there.

(m.)

how can this be relied on?

to veer round, to come to the proper course.

appropriate; trustworthy; to the point.
a rational or logical remark.
not to be in proper shape..
to cause.

/ to prove correct.

to bring to ones senses; to repair.

- regularly, properly; regular; so-so.
- to be well.

just, precise(ly).

to recover; to be correct; to come to ones senses.

(m.)

to show the thumb: to refuse bluntly and
contemptuously.
to make somebody dance to ones tune.
expression of indifference.

- after striking and sounding: after close scrutiny;

publicly.
(f.)
to be kicked about; to wander aimlessly.
to trip; to suffer damage or misfortune.
to kick off; totreat with contempt.

to suffer a kick of adversity; to be knocked down.

91

to be roughly treated.
(m.)

- place of residence; whereabouts.

- in various places.

to keep a distance, to hold aloof.

to remain in the same place.

(m.)

to be renowned; to control.

to announce openly, to proclaim.

ostentatiously.
(m.)

everyone is submissive when under compulsion.

by force.

to wander about.
(m.)

to be unsuccessful in an examination.
(f.)

to haul over the coals.

/ to talk to one like a Dutch uncle.

- a rebuke.

to keep under control.

(f.)

- postal expenses.

to post a letter.
- postal service.

150.

92

(m.)

/ to get ready for departure, to decamp.

to encamp, to come to stay.
(m.)

in order, in due form.

(m.)

original, eccentric.
suitable, skilled.

to gain acceptance of opinion or purpose.

to behave oneself.
fittingly.

in general, basically.

250.

two and a half days: a short period.

short-lived authority.
to look downcast.
(m.)

or to encourage.
to take courage.
(f.)

- investigation.
(f.)

to put in a difficult situation.

(m.)

lots of.

93

to become a heap, to lie in ruins; to fall (a building); to get

killed.
- a great amount.
(m.)

to make a pretence or show.

(m.)

the grass is greener on the other side.

Literally, distant drums sound pleasing. Also

.

to be tired of, to be fed up.

to trouble, to harass.
(f.)

to admonish.
(f.)

or dogged by misfortune; an unlucky person.

a lucky person.

(m.)

/ to be formal, to stand upon ceremony.

(m.)

to make an estimate.
(m.)

to abdicate a throne.
to enthrone.

to ascend to a throne, to reign.

throne or casket: victory or death.

94

a vast sum.
(f.)

- at once; swiftly.

with a loud proclamation.

(m.)

- body and soul.

(f.)

to feel an affinity (for, ).

(m.)

a strange or interesting thing.

its no laughing matter.

-- refreshed, revived.
to soak; to refresh.
-- soaked, drenched.
(f.)

to pity.
(f.)

in several ways, in many respects.

entirely.

badly, disgracefully.
in every way.
(m.)

- upside down; topsy-turvy.

(f.)

to summon, to send for.

to feel the urge for.
(f.)

lit. the swords field isnt green:
violence only yields bad results.

95

to be in precarious situation.
to kill with the sword.

by the authority of the sword.

to draw a sword.

to raise a sword (to strike).

to sheathe a sword.

to brandish a sword.

to break butterfly on wheel.

(m.)

lit. bread from the same griddle: birds of a

feather.
to prepare to defend oneself.
(f.)

to vouchsafe ones presence; to come; to go.

please sit down.
to come.

to go, to depart.
(f.)

-- from the core of the heart, earnestly.

to get to the bottom of.
-- one fold/layer over theother.

to examine carefully; to scrutinise.

(m.)

/ to set aside (for later use), to defer.

(f.)

not to have the courage.

to muster courage.
(m.)

- to shred; to reduce to shreds.

- to be reduced to shreds.

96

sequence not to be broken, order to be retained.

things to get confused, disorder to reign.
(m.)

to fall (a meteor).

to reach a great height.

to count stars, to lie awake.

to perform a hard task.
(f.)

it takes two hands to clap: it takes two

to make a quarrel.
( ) to dance to the tune of.
out of time (beat, rhythm).
(m.)

/
lit. the palate to be dried up: to be very thirsty.
to talk nineteen to the dozen.
(m.)

to make a mountain out of a molehill.

(m.)

lit. no oil from these seeds: you cant
squeeze blood out of a tulip.
to make a storm in a tea cup.
a blow-by-blow account.
little by little.

little by little.

not enough space to swing a cat.

a tiny amount; for a moment.

within an ace; a hairs breadth.

not to yield anything; to be dry.

(m.)

97

,
when an
opportunity comes grab it with both hands.
Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity; tilaka is a
mark worn on the forehead for spiritual reasons or on special
religious occasions. The saying literally means When Lakshmi
applies tilaka do not wash your face.

thereupon, moreover.

( ) to cap it all; into the bargain.

despite that.

- a distant relationship.
- to scatter.

- to talk nonsense.
- to deceive.
(m.)

the arrow is shot: the die is cast, what
is done cannot be undone.
to go straight at full speed.
/ / to hit the mark.
(m.)

- to make uninformed remarks.

a blunt retort.

recent, new.

new-born.
(m.)

( ) moreover, apart from this.

- - to exchange abusive remarks.

(f.)

98

to lord it over.

of quick intelligence.

- sharp- or quick-tempered.
of fast pace.
(m.)

to perform the ceremony of pre-marital oil anointment.

see which way the wind blows.

to extract oil out of; to make someone work very

hard.
(m.)
lit. an oilman's ox: someone condemned to toil hard.

to be idle.
(m.)

- to talk sweetly or charmingly.

to suddenly become unfriendly.

to parrot something.

to repeat something like a parrot, to cram up; to

harp on the same note.

, think before you speak.

(m.)

- to be in a bad state, to be badly treated.

roughly.

- prudently.
(f.)

to fawn, to scowl.

to knit the brow, to stare angrily.

99

to hang in suspension, to be neither here nor there.

According to Hindu mythology, Trishanku was an ancient Indian
King ofthe Solar dynasty. The sage Vishwamitra tried to send his
physical body to the heavens but Indra, the king of gods, refused
him entry and sent him back. The sage caused Trishanku to be
suspended mid-air upside-down.

to be exhausted.
- tired out.

- exhausted; dejected.
(f.)

to relax after having worked hard.

(f.)

to pat to sleep (as a child).
to pat.
(f.)

/ to clap.

to pat the back with approvingly.

(m.)

or to slap, to strike.

to give ablunt answer.

(f.)

to pat, to slap.
(f.)

fickle-minded; self-seeking.

100

It literally means an eggplant on a plate. When a round eggplant

is put on a plate, it tilts very easily.
its as broad as its long.
(f.)

or to gauge the depth; to assess (a matter, a

persons attitude).
(f.)
to patch, to mend with a patch.

(f.)

-
to condemn; to express indignation.

-
to suffer indignation, to be humiliated.
(f.)

to be always spitting; to jeer (at, ).

to be jeered at.

(f.)

to eat ones words.

to kick at; to spit at.

you cannot make a horn of a pig's tail.

or
to try to make a silkpurse out of a sow's
ears; to try too hard with limited resources; to be miserly.

to eat ones words, to retract a promise.

/
to lift up the heel against, to treat
with contempt.

(m.)

to pout, to grimace.
(f.)

(
) to open the strings of the purse, to spend
liberally.
capitalists, moneyed people.
(m.)

101

wholesale price.

/ a wholesale dealer, wholesaler.

in large numbers; wholesale.

little strokes fell mighty oaks.

a word to the wise should be enough.
a little at a time, by degrees.
silence is golden.
of late, recently.

an empty vessel makes much noise.

(m.)

to sulk.

to be astonished.
(m.)

to impose a penalty or fine.

to punish.

to pay a penalty or fine.

(euph.) a devil.

to cry out oh God, to bewail ones fate.

(m.)

go to hell!

(euph.) to die.
(m.)

to take possession (of, ), to occupy; to interfere.

102

to allow (entry); to intrude.

in the possession (of, ), under the authority or

jurisdiction.
to have access, to be versed or skilled.
(f.)

one time.

when leaving.

to ward off; to bury.

to be accused under a particular section of the penal

code.
get out of here!/be damned!
to move off; to get off.

to flee with the tail between the legs.

to spend money carefully.
(m.)

to pressure, to coerce.

to speak giving emphasis.

to work/act under coercion.

hushed up (a matter).

to keep under wraps.

(m.)

to be at deaths door.

or to gasp for breath, to breathe ones last; to be

confused.
momentary.
in a moment.

to keep quiet (as in confusion); to bear patiently.

to be choked.

103

moment by moment, regularly.

long may you live.
() for a moment.

to stay alive.

to cheat, to entrap.

to nourish a vain hope.

at every moment.
(f.)

worthless.

to be worthless, to be dirt cheap.

(m.)

to beg from door to door.

in the meanwhile.

() to intervene, to interrupt.
middle.

to introduce (a matter), to bring forward.

(m.)

to knock at the door.

(m.)

lit. to enclose the sea in a jar: to be

concise (in speech); to achieve the impossible.
on the other side of the river.
(m.)

of first class.

to reach a high level.

to reduce the quality or the standing.

to promote.
first class.

to gain first place.

104

(m.)

of no use at all.
(m.)

(formal) when shall I see you again?

(m.)

extremist party.

moderate party.
(f.)

() to treat, to cure.

or take medicine.

a good number of people.

(f.)

to knock at the door.

(m.)

its the usual practice.

(f.)

a scrounger, a parasite.

to approach somebody with a selfish motive.

to be confined within the four walls.
to be on the threshold, impending.
(m.)

to urinate. (slang)
(m.)

to grind the teeth (in anger); to cause the teeth to

chatter (through cold).
toothache.
- to be a close friend.

to suffer a rebuff or setback.

to hold a grudge (against, ); to set ones heart on.

105

dentist.

to chatter (the teeth).

dentist.

to be unbearable (taste).
to be poverty-stricken.
(f.)

to gnash (the teeth).

(m.)

to be tricked (by, ).
to try to defraud.

to take ones turn; to make ones move (in a game).

to make the best of an opportunity.
to lie in wait.

to trick, to pay a lost bet or forfeit.

to wrestle.

to be thrown (dice).

to stake, to wager.
(f.)

to teach one's grandmother to suck eggs.

lit. to hide the stomach from the midwife: to

keep a secret from one who is bound to know it.
(f.)
or
to shake off the beard.
to grow a beard.

to shave the beard.

(m.)

() at a fixed price.

to settle or to haggle over a price.

the whole amount.
or cheaply.

106

(f.)

to enforce a decision either way.

a tricky measure to succeed.

all efforts went to waste. Literally, the lentils did not

disintegrate.
Before they can be eaten, the lentils need to be boiled for a long
time. If the pulses do not disintegrate, the dal is unfit for
consumption.
I smell a rat. Literally, theres something black
in the dal.
Before the lentils (dal) are cooked, all impurities are sifted, so if
afterwards something black shows up in the pot thats because the
dal wasnt thoroughly sifted.
to be decided once for all; to be ruined.
(f.)

to bury, to cremate.
to light a pyre.
(m.)

daily, always.

joys are temporary.

Literally, four days of moonlight, then dark night.
() to be beaten severely; to live a life of
misery.
after dawn; in mid- or later morning.
time waits for no man.
daily.

day by day.

a change in fortune (usually for the worse).

lit. new, nine days, old, a hundred

days: old things last longer.
(m.)
to turn one's head.

to have a swollen head, to be conceited.

107

() to have a screw loose.

to spoil a child.
to be crazy.

to rack the brains.

() to be deranged.
to cudgel ones brains.
(m.)

cold-heartedly.

to harden the heart.

in ones heart of hearts.

openly, generously.
boldly.

to act according to ones wishes.

to be obsessed (with, ).

to ones heart content (also ).

to relieve the heart (of pent-up feelings).

in ones inmost heart; to oneself; silently.
(f.)

or (euph.) to obey a call a nature.

(m.)

to be extremely embarrassed.
to stare, to cast an angry look.
to stare, to gaze.

to be attentive; to concentrate (in some work).

to exchange amorous glances.
(m.)

at dusk.
(f.)

the walls have ears.

108

( ) to create a gulf (between), to raise a

barrier.
barriers to be razed.
to act as abarrier, to cause separation between.
to come to the end (of ones life).
(f.)

to start life anew.

(m.)

to sleep in peace; to have peace of
mind.
A dupatta is long scarf traditionally worn by Asian womenacross
both shoulders. It is a symbol of modesty, so why this idiom
connects wearing a dupatta on ones face with having peace of mind
is unclear. Perhaps it suggests that a woman who wears a dupatta
has her honour safeguarded, thus feeling carefree.

(f.)

to be in constant attendance (on, ).

to put the tail between the legs.

to be scared away.

to wag the tail like a dog, to flatter.

to put right.

(f.)

the new moon; an infrequent visitor.

- a man who marries a second wife.

(m.)

- to mix well.

- to mix intimately.

to judge impartially.
This idioms refers to milk and water, which are soluble liquids.They
are a metaphor for facts and lies, which can be muddled and only

109

separated by a perceptive mind. See also

.

beyond reproach. Also
.
It literally means washed in milk, i.e. supposedly free from any
evils.

a nursing infant.

- a sudden fit or frenzy.

to discard as unwanted; to belittle.

to be still an infant; to be callow.
This idiom literally translates as ones mouth to smell of milk and
its a reference to the primary teeth (also known as milk teeth), the
first set of teeth of humans and some other mammals. Compare with

a fly in the milk; something unwelcome.

family honour.

milk teeth.

not to have reached maturity.

to call a spade a spade.

to shame the family honour.

or to boast.

to dream of something beyond ones reach.

to drive away; to send away disdainfully.

to propose something impracticable.

- - to be a laughing stock.
clear out!
(f.)

( ) to come into view.

to raise the eyes.

110

to water the plants.

to put a hat in the head.

by when? How soon?

something long in coming will come right.
for some time; for a long time.
to arrive late.
(m.)

to be dumbstruck or nervous.
(f.)

(formal) ladies and gentlemen.

(m.)

to travel from country to country.

(f.)

or to be born in human form.

- what is to happen, the future.

or to shed a few tears.

worthless, trivial.

a chance to talk briefly.

to meet privately (with, ).

to call a spade a spade.

to eat twice a day; to have enough to eat.

(f.)

or to form a friendship.

to pretend friendship (with, ).

- intimate association.

111

work needing to be redone.

quickened pace.

a double entendre.
(m.)

/ to have a fit.

to undertake a tour.
heart attack.
(m.)

giddiness.
(m.)

a good name is better than riches.

(m.)

to get a shock; to suffer a set-back.

to push; to give a push; to encourage.

to be tossed about; to suffer humiliation.

to be shocked; to suffer a set back; to get a

push/support.
(f.)
to be reduced to shreds.

to tatter, to tear into pieces.

(m.)

four and five are nine.

- riches.

someone elses earnings.

merry-making at the expense of

112

Lakshmi-Narayan (-) is a manifestation of the god

Vishnu. Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and
Narayan is worshiped as the Supreme God in the Vedic tradition.

a brave or skillful swordsman.

true to ones word; wise in counsel.

(m.)

to draw a bow.
(m.)

how fortunate I am!

(m.)

the Devil take you!

(f.)

to threaten.
(f.)

mushroom, toadstool.
on the earth.
sons of the soil.

or to plough the soil.

- mother earth.
(f.)

or to have sex (with, ). (slang)

he owes me money.
(m.)

to speak in good faith.

(f.)

/ to control completely.

to have overwhelming influence.

to establish overwhelming influence.

113

to be held in, or regarded with, awe.

(m.)

to relieve strong feelings.

to boast.

to emit smoke, to fumigate.

to inhale smoke.

to reduce to poverty.

an immediate neighbour.

(f.)

to seize someone (a wish).

persevering; assiduous; resolute.

to take possession (an obsession).

to follow (something) persistently.

to be driven by an urge.

straight above, at the very top.

a heavy silence.

from the very beginning.

from beginning to end.

(f.)

to bask in the sun.

to rise (the sun).

to be old and yet foolish.

(m.)

or to be talked of, to be famous.

to create an uproar.

(f.)

to repent.
This idiom refers to the ancient custom of spreading ashes over
ones head as a sign of repentance.

114

to stir up dust; to wander; to stir up a commotion; to

make fun (of, ).

to attempt the impossible.

to humble to the dust, to knock down; to defeat.

to eat dirt, to eat crow.

() to be given a beating.

to be ruined.

to strike in vain.
(m.)

a risky matter.

to feel doubt or suspicion.

(m.)

an idle or worthless person; a jack-of-all-trades.

(m.)

(a person) to be inferior (to another, ).

This idiom conveys the image of someone washing the feet of a
person of higher social standing.
(m.)

a castle in the air.

(m.)

to be distracted (attention).

to come to the mind (a thought).

to understand, to pay attention.

to strip (of clothes), to dishonour.

shameless performance or act.

/
indigent and naked.

poverty-stricken, naked and famished.

115

naked as at birth.

a naked sword; one who speaks his mind freely.

barefoot.
(m.)

to get a good mark.

just go in.
to refuse.
(f.)

to play the ape, to imitate.

even imitation requires intelligence.

why use your wits for imitation!

imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

(f.)

to tame, to control.

to be under the control of.

(m.)

from head to toe.

(m.)

(slang) prostitute.
It literally means a market mare and refers to a woman who sells
her body in public.
(f.)
to brush aside, to disregard.

to come in sight or view; to see, to appear.

to present, to offer; to look.

to avoid being seen, to avoid an exchange of looks.

to look round hurriedly.

to be unable to look straight, to be downcast

because of shame.

116

to spot, to sight.

to be attracted (towards); to have a pleasant

appearance.
to be dazzled, not to be able to fix the eyes.
to try to evade, to avoid being seen.

one's favours tobe withdrawn; one's attitude

tochange; to assume adifferent posture.
to beafflicted by an evil eye.
to catch each other'seye, to exchange glances.
to look into each other's eyes.

to be in someones good books.

() to devour with the eyes.

to be deep in one's black books.

, out of sight, out of mind.
(m.)

as a result of this.
(f.)

to be lost (virginity).
This idiom refers to an old ceremony amongstprostitutes. Up until
the time a girl lost her virginity to her first customer she wore a nosering ().
(m.)

displeased.
(f.)

or to distend the nostrils: to be angry or

/ the pulse beat to stop.

/ to feel the pulse.
/
pulse; to know intimately.
(m.)

to have one's hand on the

117

to be supported by someone (and therefore to

be under a debt of gratitude).
Eating another persons salt is a metaphor for depending on
someone for meals, so the dependant one has a debt of gratitude.
to have pretty looks.
( )
to discharge one's obligation to the
master.
to get punished for being disloyal.
- to exaggerate, to embellish a description.
(m.)

- men and women.

(m.)

dead drunk.
(f.)

- to be unnerved.

- /- to know intimately.
- to be very excited.
- bred in the bone.

- to be electrified; to suffer a shock, to get

excited.
(m.)
to outwit an enemy.

The is the number 9 in playing cards; is the number ten.

a very small amount.

otherwise.

no matter.

-
(colloq.) refusal.
(f.)

or to run (the nose).

118

to turn up the nose (in contempt, pride or boredom); to

look or be angry (with, ).

- to punish cruelly.
to blow the nose.

or to act effeminately.
to act meticulously.
to snore.

to rub the nose.

to speak through the nose.

or to blow the nose.

(m.)

or , a bad workman blames his tools.

Its literal translation is (he) cant dance, the floor is skewed, i.e.
he doesnt know how to dance and blames it on the floor.

critical moment; crisis.

at a critical moment.
(m.)

on what grounds?

in various ways.
(f.)

an easy job; a place of merriment.

lit. to talk of a mothers paternal

house to the maternal grandmother: to teach ones grandmother to
suck eggs.
to be in a terrible predicament.

or to measure.
(m.)

a despicable creature.

119

to indulge in a contemptible act, to stoop too
low.
(m.)
to be very famous, to be held in high
esteem.
to become a byword; to be disgraced.
to bandy one's name about; to bring disgrace upon.

to bring name/credit to; (ironical) to tarnish

somebodys reputation.
the memory to be lost; to have no survivor.
/ to earn a name.

not to able to utter a persons name.

nothing at all.

to enter a name (on list); to sign ones name.

to destroy ones reputation.
(f.)

to sail.

to get a boat to the far shore: to do something

successfully.

to undertake two incompatible or
contradictory tasks.

own, personal, private.

for private use.

to be obsessed about earning money.

(m.)

- for a brief moment.

(m.)

to aim at.

to aim at.

120

/ to strike, to hit a target.

to take an aim.
(f.)

to make a comparison.
(f.)

to be a law unto oneself.

a sleepy-head.

to disturb the sleep.

to sleep soundly.
to fall asleep.

- the ups and downs of life.

ill-gotten gains.

of inferior quality.

low caste; a low-caste man.

to lower (an object, the eyes).

to suffer shame or a setback.
with downcast eyes.

from head to foot.

-- lit. half a doctor, life in danger: an

amateur makes a mess of a job.
(f.)
to have bad intentions.
(m.)

to blind someone.

121

to dye blue; to beat someone black and blue; to

disgrace.
- sad, difficult (a time).
to change colour (out of fear, shock or anger).
(m.)

or to sell in auction.
to buy at an auction.

to be put up for auction.

to be sold at auction.

(m.)

to dispense a prescription.

to give a prescription.

well-behaved.

well-meaning, good.
good conduct.

to say something irrelevant; to prevaricate.

It literally translates as to say 9 and 13 makes 22.
to slip away quietly.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Its literal meaning is it is better to earn cash than to owe
somebody money.
(f.)
to obtain employment.
(f.)

to come to a miserable plight.

-- turn by turn.

drums to be beaten, festivity to begin.

openly; with beat of drums.

122

(m.)

or to be sprouting wings: to be about to leave

a place.
(m.)

or () to stretch out the hand, to seize; to

threaten or to attempt to invade (a country).
a handful.
to walk on tiptoe.
(f.)

or to make a display of learning.

singing in classical style.

(m.)

from your point of view.

pro and con.
(m.)

to beat time with the foot.

to proceed cautiously.
in step.
(f.)

to be obstinate.

to disgrace; to mock.

or we get on very well.

(m.)

or to demolish; to raze to the ground.

(business, etc.) to crash, to be undone/ruined.

to be ruined/undone.

123

(f.)

to have a harmonious relationship, to carry on

smoothly.
to establish a rapport (with); to have things going
smoothly.
not to get on well easily (with, ).
(f.)

or to destroy reputation.
to be destroyed (reputation).
(f.)

to break bread together; to develop intimate

relationship.
, to blow off the roof that
provides shelter; to cut off the hand that feeds you.
(m.)
to be told off; to be kicked out; to be fired.

a rustle of leaves to be heard; apprehension to be

caused.
everything around to be still.
to have a run of good cards.

to somersault, to make a sudden change of

one's stand.
to reshuffle the cards.
(m.)

a line cut in stone: something permanent.

to suffer something patiently.
be damned!

lit. a stone isnt made of wax: a cruel man

has no space for compassion.
to waste time teaching a fool.
(f.)

124

to protect.

to find protection.

to seek protection.
(m.)

to be clipped (wings): to be made helpless.

to be burnt (feathers): to be made powerless.

to flap the wings, to fly.
(m.)

to provide evidence; to introduce.

to call for or seek proof.
(f.)

a sheet of paper.
(m.)

to be blinded, not to see reality.

eardrum.

to save the honour of; to keep a secret.

to be unveiled.

/ to expose (a secret); to uncover, to unearth.

to conceal.

to expose, to lay bare.

to beexposed, to be laid bare.

to keep out of somebody'ssight; to keep on evading.

clandestine(ly), stealthily.

to keep behind acurtain; to keep under a veil; (for

women) not to move out ofthe house, not to mix freely.

to act foolishly.
(m.)

sentence of death.

125

the two used to be at war with each
other.
mutual.
(m.)

or to abstain (from, ); to follow a diet.

(f.)

to pass a test, to survive an ordeal.

(m.)

a moment later.
in an instant.

or (or ) at every moment.

in the twinkling of an eye.
to wink.
(f.)

/ in no time.

not to sleep a wink.

to show honour or love (to, ).

to have tearful eyes; to be moved by compassion.

to welcome deferentially.

to extend a respectful welcome.

to wink (at).

to take a nap.

the eyes to be heavy through sleep, to feel sleepy.

// to extend a cordial welcome.
(m.)

to give a sound beating (to, ).

(m.)

to be heavily laden, to have weighty responsibilities;

to dominate (an argument).
(m.)

126

a straw in the wind: something insignificant.
(f.)

to be thrilled, to throb with emotion.

to beat hollow, to give a severe thrashing.

to stretch out the legs; to die. (colloq.)

to stretch out the hand (as in begging).

(m.)

to be ready to make sacrifices
for the sake of.
to perspire; to have cold feet.
to have cold feet.

to tire out, to wear someone out.

to labour hard, to make strenuous efforts.

hard-earned money.

- to perspire profusely.
(m.)

to guard, to keep a watch.

to have a change of guard.

to deploy a guard.

to be on guard (duty).

to entrust under a guard; to assign to the custody of.

to keep under watch; to keep in custody.
to be under custody/watch.
(m.)

to be in the company of a loved one.

to sit close (to a loved one,).

to avoid confrontation; to steer clear of.

() to live near.
(m.)

127

the mountain gave birth to a mouse:

much was promised but little was accomplished.
to perform a very ardous task.
to be over (the worst).

(ironic) to achieve a feat, to perform a miraculous task.

, to be hit by a calamity.
- a day that seems to have no end.

to kick against the pricks, to cross swords with

a giant.
to be agonising; to be too heavy; to seem to be
unending.
(f.)

to talk in riddles.

to solve a riddle.

- to quarrel.

- to be at sixes and sevens.

(m.)

to injure or ruin oneself.

to be ready and eager.
to meddle.

to lose ones footing; to take to flight.

to step out, to hasten.

to have no means of support; to die.

or to have a foot in the grave.

the big toe.
to squat.

to withdraw (from a place, ); to give up (a bad habit).

to stand firmly.

to set foot (on, or ).

128

not to move (from a place), to be always present.

to wear out the legs, to be exhausted.
to be terrified.

or to be idle or indifferent.

to follow in the footsteps (of, ); to sit crosslegged.

to stretch out comfortably; to be contented; to die.
on foot.

or to toddle.

to stamp the feet (in frustration); to struggle vainly

against difficulties.
to be pregnant.
to be always on the move.
to go to sleep (the foot).
(f.)

to receive elementary education.

(m.)

to repeat the same old story.

(m.)

a rolled pan leaf; a challenge.

to undertake a difficult task.
(m.)

he has no shame.
alcoholic drink.
to insult.

or

something insignificant or short-lived.
dirt cheap.

to absorb water (a wound); to be pregnant.

to be consumed by shame.

to water (the mouth).

129

to revive an old quarrel.

to be ashamed.

thinner than water: worthless.

(m.)

/ to commit sinful acts; to sin repeatedly.

(one's) sins to reach the limit.
the burden of one's sins.

to willfully commit sinful acts.

lit. to roll out papads: to toil very hard to achieve

something.
Rolling out papads is very difficult, hence the metaphor for an
arduous task.
(m.)
how will you manage (a difficulty)?

to get across; to be through with a job; to succeed in an

aim.
to cross over; to (cause to) cross; to pass by; to overtake.
to contend successfully.

to be able to measure the depth or expanse of; to reach

the end (of); to match or to defeat an opponent.
(m.)
to be pacified, to cool down.
/ to fly into a rage.
(f.)

by turns.

alternatively; turn by turn.

(m.)

to chase; to follow.
to get rid of.
to be rid of.

130

to let go; to abandon.

(f.)

to be defeated (in Indian style wrestling); to be

thrown flat on the back.
/- born next in succession.
to be bedridden.

to pat on the back appreciatively; to praise; to give

encouragement.
to turn ones back.
to stroke or pat in the back; to encourage.
to support.

to be at the back of.

to turn one's back on.

/ to stab in the back.

/ to be felled, to suffer defeat.

to turn to go, to leave the scene.
to soothe.

to be without sense of shame or modesty.

(f.)

a bundle of trouble. (iron.)

(m.)

to behave hypocritically.

to follow tradition.

(m.)

to have unlimited hopes.

to build castles in the air.

(f.)

prominent. (colloq.)

131

(m.)

to deceive.

to give a turn, to screw; to deceive.

(m.)

mere intentions dont get anything
done.
Literally, imaginary pulao rice doesnt fill the stomach.
starving.
to be impatient.

not to be bothered in the least. (iron.)

craving for food; violent emotion.

to satisfy hunger.

or close or intimate secrets.

starvation.

to cause an abortion.

to be all skin and bone.

to go short of, or without food.
to rumble (the stomach).

to have an old head on young shoulders.

to be conceived (child).
to be sly.

to cause to be pregnant.
pregnant.

to be pregnant.

to behave (towards, ); to deal with.

to put forward; to present.

to go forward, to serve (its purpose).

to be present.
(m.)

132

to interrupt.

to be swept off one's feet.

- to go astray; to wobble, to totter.

utterly insignificant.

to hold cheap; to treat as insignificant.
to secure one's position.
to interfere.

not to go out at all; to keep indoors; to be

absolutely idle; to sit in a leg-twisting posture.
to set foot on.
to implore humbly.

to meddle, to defy somebody.

to refuse to withdraw.

to step ahead; to accelerate one's pace.

the feet to be aching; to be tired out.

to put fetters around one's feet, to put in

bondage.
to walk too slow; to avoid walking on some
pretext.
Henna ( ) is the dye prepared from a flowering plant and used
to decorate the skin. The idiom conveys the image of someone
walking hesitantly because his feet have been dyed with henna and
hes afraid of smearing it.
(m.)
a broken coin; something worthless.

I dont have change.
to recover money.

/
to squander away; to spend money extravagantly.

to save money is
harder than earning it.
not to repay a debt; to embezzle; to accept a bribe.

133

to bribe.

one's money/capitalto be irretrievably lost.

to squander money.

to mint money, to make a fortune.

to misappropriate somebodys money; not to repay

adebt.
to invest money/capital.
pride in ones wealth.

to be too stingy.

- / to pine for each penny, to be

too tight.
(f.)
to be a yes-man.

to give in; to go bankrupt.

(f.)

the day to break.

to be very successful.
(f.)

to die of thirst.
(m.)

to some extent, in a way.

well, nicely.
(m.)

to become famous.
(m.)

to be overtaxed, exhausted.
to be terrified.

to plague or harass.

to be at the point of death.

to depart (life).

134

to risk ones life.

(m.)

to release oneself from a noose.

, or to set a trap.

(, ) to become entangled.
() to be trapped.

at once, immediately; there and then.

- worn and torn.

- shabby, ragged.

- torn and tattered; scruffy.

to stare blankly; to look aghast.

a hoarse voice.

- lit. a voice like broken bamboo:a hoarse

voice.
in tatters/rags.
(f.)

early (in the morning).

(m.)

Gods grace be upon you.

all is well (by Gods grace).
(f.)

/ to banter, to make a sarcastic remark.

(f.)

to finish (with, ).

or to go to defecate.

135

at leisure, at ease.

to have a call of nature.

(m.)

/ / not to have the faintest idea.

(m.)

to impose a duty.
suppose that

fictitious name.
(m.)

from earth to heaven.

an extra-deferential greeting (by bending the head so

low as to almost touch the ground).
(m.)
cause and effect.

(a tree) to bear fruits; to bring results.

to enjoy the reward of one's good deeds.

to suffer/face the consequences.
to yield result.

to be rewarded; to suffer for one's sins.

to be the outcome of.
(m.)

the heavens to fall, calamity to befall.

- to be prosperous.
(f.)

a fair weather friend.

a fickle person.

seasonal fever.

136

an unstable person.
(f.)
scaffold.

to be hanged.

or to hang, to strangle.
() or to be hanged.
(m.)

to starve.

to die of hunger.
(m.)

to faint; to be dumbstruck.
to live a carefree life.
to faint.

to shout at the top of ones voice.

to rend (as a wild beast); to rage.
to tear to pieces.
(f.)

to speak broken Persian.

It literally means to break Persians leg. Persian was once the
language of the ruling and educated classes in India.
/
to show off one's knowledge.

to expose; to disclose compromising information about

someone.
(m.)
at a distance of five miles.
(f.)

anxiety is the canker of the heart.

care killed the cat.

137

care brings no benefits.

(m.)

, /
something), to be obsessed (by).

to go crazy (about

to return.

to return; to go back (on one's words, etc.).

notwithstanding, even then, in spite of that.
anew, once more.
(m.)

absence makes the heart grow fonder.

to be ineffective or useless.

per capita, per head.

nowadays.

percent, per hundred.

to lose lustre; to grow dull.

to appear insipid or dull.

dejected; devoid of emotion.

uninteresting remark.
(f.)

to go great guns.

quickly, with agility; promptly.

(f.)

to drizzle.
(f.)

to expire.
in a jiffy.

138

to puff (as at a cigarette).

clear out!

to burst into tears.

() ones luck to have broken; to be ill-fated.

(m.)

to pluck flowers; to collect post-cremation ashes (for
immersion in holy rivers).
to kiss the Blarney stone.
/ very delicate and beautiful; very light.

to be too frugal, to eat little food.
a bed of roses.

to live in luxury.

to be overjoyed; to grow fat.

to thrive.
thriving.

to be in the seventh heaven.

- to take airs, to be puffed up.

swollen; bulging out; puffed up; overjoyed.

to be overjoyed.
(m.)

warming oneself before a fire of straw: a vain

attempt or hope.
to excite contention.
(m.)

all around.

to be indirect; to rise (a discrepancy).

- constant change.

or to fall into difficulties; to de duped.

139

to set a trap.

changing times.
(m.)

to make occasional visits.

to perform the matrimonial rites of going around the

sacred fire.
to go round again and again.

to fail, to be unsuccessful (in an examination).

(something) obtained for free.

gratis.

to go to endless trouble.
to crack the finger joints.

immediately, at once.

(m.)

fickle friendship.

lit. what does a monkey know about

the taste of ginger: caviar to the general.

/ a hollow threat; mere intimidation.

regular expenses.
a monotonous tone of voice.
(f.)

stop talking nonsense.

140

from one's own hand.
(m.)

to reveal a secret.

to sleep (with).

to hang the head in shame.
to embrace.
(m.)

to give birth.

a despicable wretch.

colliding with the cycle, he

nearly fell.
he didnt survive despite our trying to save
him.
(f.)
a nitwit.

I am very happy.
Christmas day.
boasting.

I thank God (that something is over).

a form of address for elderly Muslim ladies.
capital letters.
(f.)

to show the teeth; to laugh.

32 () is the number of teeth most adults have.
to keep ones mouth shut.

to clatter with cold (the teeth).

(m.)

141

ones body to burn because of fever.

the body to be aching/strained.

physical strain to be soothed.

the body to be completely bent.

deliberately.

to be enraged.

(the body) to be in a state of tension; to be

overwhelmingly excited.

every part of the body to be symmetrically
proportionate; to be cast in a pretty mould.

to grow very thin, to be emaciated.
to be refreshed.

they are worthy of praise.

they get on very well.
he is in luck.

in whatever way possible.

- to mar a successful effort, to undo an

almost accomplished job.
to survive.
what is this made of?

a sari made of silk.

to present falsehood as truth.

to keep alive; to cause to live; to maintain; to keep

good equation/relation with.

to plant acacias: to do something that can

produce no good result.

to have a good outcome; to be fulfilled (wish).

142

(m.)

the whole year.

he is ten years-old.

to come level (with, ); to overtake.

to make level or smooth; to raze; to spend a fortune;

to make equal or comparable; to match.
to be drawn (as a match, etc.), to end in a draw.
go straight on.

side by side; equally.

(f.)

() to equal, to imitate; to vie with, to confront.

for God's sake.

only in name.

be kind enough to; please.

to free (from, ).

snowstorm.
iceberg.

to be intensely cold.
to freeze, to snow.
(m.)

slantwise.
vertically.

to crawl.

to appear (a wrinkle).
to turn and twist.

to be twisted; to jerk (the body).

143

to make effort.
headlong.
(f.)

to be hit by super-human wrath.

to be rid of an evil spirit.

-- an affliction, a persistent problem.

an awful lot.

a very talkative person.

to bring trouble (upon, ).

I couldnt care less.

I would never do that.

(f.)

to be ready to sacrifice oneself (for somebody).

to own up one's afflictions.
(m.)

/ / to raise a commotion.

I just want to say.

thats good; agreed.
(m.)

to have power or ability.

in the power or authority (of, ).

() to keep under ones control.

to be subject (to, ); to obey.

situated ( , ).
(f.)

to spend (days, life); to maintain (oneself), to subsist.

(m.)

144

to stay; to settle.
to give shelter.

- to talk incoherently, to rave (in intoxication).

to make hay while the sun shines.

Literally, to wash ones hands in the flowing Ganges. Hindus
bathe in the Ganges, which is considered a sacred river.
(f.)
to make excuses.

() on the pretext of; in the name of.

(f.)

to bloom; to be in full glory.

for the most part; at most; surely.

more or less; to a large extent.

splendid!
enough!
(f.)

someone submissive to authority.

(f.)

to invite trouble deliberately.

This idiom conveys the image of someone risking being bitten by a
snake by putting his hand in a snake-hole ().
(m.)

lit. neither will bamboo remain nor will

the flute play: without resources nothing can be accomplished.
Bansuris are made out of bamboo (the word , in fact, comes
from ), so what this idiom says is that without bamboos one
cannot make a flute.
to acquire a bad name.

145

or to hold up to ridicule, or disgrace.

or to jump for joy.

to assume very large proportions.

Bamboo () can grow very tall, hence its metaphorical value in

this idiom.
(f.)
to seek or accept support.

or to take the aim (of, ); to support.

or to roll up the sleeves; to prepare (for, against,

).

to have no friends or protectors.

to be hostile.

to subtract.

to be left over; to be still due (a sum); to have a

balance.
(f.)
to give free rein (to, : a horse); to set at a gallop.
to rein in (as a horse); to curb.

to lose control; to miss a chance.

(m.)

extremely delighted.

to draw back; to give up or refuse.

sometimes.
to refrain.

certain people.
(m.)

market rate or price.

146

() to spank somebody.
to drop (the prices).
to display for sale.

to wander about in a bazar.

It literally means to wander about measuring a market, thus
conveying the image of someone idly strolling in a market as if
measuring its length and width.
(f.)
to have a good hand (in cards).
to be beaten.

or to win (game, bet).

to be superior to other players; to make good profit.

(f.)

to make a road or way.

to travel.

to close or obstruct a road; to block the way.

(f.)

your word is a command to me.

an exclamation of surprise or awe.
... as for

to happen in due course.

to turn (to, ) in conversation.

to leave no stone unturned.

to contradict.

to keep ones word.

or in an instant.

or to exaggerate.
in an instant.

to become known (a matter).
to remember carefully.

147

to be talkative.

to make excuses.
to ask in vain.

to swallow ones words; to suppress ones feelings.

at any occasion.

to interrupt someone who is speaking.

to interrupt.

to make a marriage proposal.

( ) to agree with what is being said.

to be deceived.

or to win an argument.
(m.)

barking dogs seldom bite.

to patch up a hole in the sky: to accomplish

an impossibility, to work wonders.
(m.)
/ to take as one's own property, to take
as an inheritance.
to go to the length of abusing someones father.
to flatter.

or good heavens!
(m.)

- completely outdated, too primitive.

Literally, from the time of Father Adam.
(m.)
to avoid; to evade.

childs play.
Literally, a game of the left hand, i.e. something that can be done
with the left hand because it does not require any effort or skill.
(f.)
the present moment.

148

to scatter.

throughout the year.

(f.)

its your turn.

or by turns.
(m.)

to cut the hair or beard.

or to make a storm in a tea cup.

to split hairs.

to be greying (hair).
to grow the hair.

not the slightest difference.

to escape by a hair.
(f.)

a wall of sand: something not reliable.

to try to achieve the impossible.

It literally means to extract oil from sand, an obvious impossibility.

- pretentions to youthfulness in old age.

-
without having had breakfast.

The adjective means stale, kept overnight, so the expression

literally means a mouth that is kept empty overnight.
(m.)
too small.
(f.)

goodbye.
to die.

free and easy; unceremonious.

149

- incongruent talk.

uninvited guests sit on thorns.
dont do anything without thinking.

rarely any.

very few, scarcely any.

(m.)

to burrow.

to seek shelter.

to hide inside one's dwelling, to keep indoors.

without any formality.

without a gap; regularly.

without any reason; unprovoked.

or
undoubtedly.
unconditional(ly).
(f.)

only he can
understand anothers predicaments who has himself been in it.

intermediary; central, middle.

openly, for all to see.

( ) in public, in a public place.

- mediation.
meanwhile.

to intervene, to interrupt; to disturb.

to mediate; to make a witness.

to act as a mediator; to interfere.

to keep a distance.

(m.)

150

to vent ones anger.

better alone than in bad company.

- to die laughing.

loud voice.

lucky, fortunate.

(f.)

to feel flattered; to be extremely happy.

I swear to God Im not lying.

(f.)

to talk tall; to talk noisily.

(f.)

to free from bondage; to unfetter, to remove shackles.

, to fetter, to put into shackles.
(m.)

lit. come and hit me, bull: used to describe a
deliberate act that causes inevitable harm to oneself.
(m.)
() to groan and sweat under a burden.
(m.)

to eat ones words.

to make fun (of, ).

(f.)

// to be intoxicated.
(m.)

151

a secret to be exposed.
(m.)

Herculean efforts.
According to Indian mythology, Bhagirath was a king who
performed penance for Brahma for a 1000 years, in the hope of
bringing the Ganges from the heavens to the earth.
(m.)
to be afraid (of, ).

or to put in fear.
to be felt (fear).

all ones life, for the rest of (ones) life.

( ) for just a moment.

to eat all the stomach can hold.

to be paid in full.

to inflate a balloon.

to be moved by compassion or grief.

to be full (stomach).
to embrace.

to be satisfied (with, ).

() to wish well.

to appear to look well.

well said!

welcome!

even if, it may well be (but).

(m.)

to burn.
(m.)

152

() to be revealed (e.g. a secret).

to betray a secret.
(f.)

/ various kinds (of).

(m.)

or to turn (fortune).
to divide.
(m.)

to heat an oven; to waste ones time.

he/she can go to hell!

or to throw into the oven; to throw out or

away; to curse.
(m.)
to take responsibility.

whatever it may be.

come on, then!
(f.)

begging bowl.
to beg.

a wet cat.

to behave abjectly.

the later, colder part of the night.

(f.)

to be overwhelmed with troubles.

to collect (a crowd).
or to crowd.

internal, interior.

153

- in and out.

- to appear what one is in reality, to be the

same within and without.
within oneself; in ones heart of hearts; stealthily.

(m.)

() to deceive.

or to be deceived.

(f.)

to die of starvation.

- hungry and naked; destitute.

on an empty stomach.

(m.)

to cast out an evil spirit.

the abode of a ghost, a haunted place.

- dirty or neglected abode.

- possessed by an evil spirit.

or () a fiend to possess someone: to rage;

to be obsessed.

to become drunk, to rage.

to be or to become possessed.

to rage.
(f.)

or to play role or part.

to beat about the bush.

- very much.

(f.)

-
a lapse, error.

a labyrinth.
-

154

-
correction; rectification; errata.

to make amends, to rectify.

by mistake.

/
on no account.

a forgetful or bad memory.

- forgotten; wandering; a casual visitor.

- wandering, stray.

- once in a blue moon, rarely.

dont think this on any account.

(m.)

() to thrash.

to stuff with straw.

(f.)

to make a present or offering; to meet.

to make an offering.

blind following.
(m.)

to distinguish (between, ).

to reveal a secret; to unmask.

() to reveal a secret.

to discover a secret; to solve a mystery.

() to keep something secret.
to probe (motive, secret).
(m.)

or to assume a disguise; to fake (an attitude).

(f.)

to cast pearls before swine.

155

like a buffalo: difficult to deal with.

(m.)

to experience, to suffer; to enjoy in a sexual way.

to eat; to place food before someone; to offer food (to

an idol).
(m.)
to eat; to dine.

- eating place; kitchen.

-
menu.
(f.)

to frown, to scowl.
(m.)

to doubt, to question; to be vain; to misunderstand.

to be disclosed (a secret); to be exposed.

to mislead; to cause perplexity (to, ).

(f.)

to lend.

to borrow.
(m.)

is all well?
(f.)

to complete a stage or journey.

to lead to a destination.

to approve.
(f.)

to give approval.

156

to retard, to slacken (speed, gait).

slow or soft gait or movement; slow progress.

to become slow, slack, reduced.
slowly, softly; slightly.

to sell cheap.

to sell at a low price.

(m.)

or () to let a house.
or to rent a house.

block of flats, or residential quarters.

(f.)

to bring evil upon oneself; to lie; to turn a blind

eye (to shortcomings).
to shirk an obligation.
(or ) or to have little to do, to kill time.
(m.)

to reel (the head or the brain).

cerebral.

or to harass.

to empty the brain; to tire (oneself) by talking too

much; to harass.
to be arrogant.
to torment.

to reel (the senses).

to rack the brain.

or to invent, to fabricate.

- to say if and but, to be reluctant to acquiesce.

157

(f.)

to feel like vomitting.

(f.)

to flounder like a fish (out of water); to be

agitated; to jump about in pain.
or to fish.

-- above-mentioned.
(f.)

to work as a labourer.
(m.)

to relish.

to enjoy to the full.

to give a taste (of, ); to give pleasure.

to enjoy oneself.

something that gives pleasure; a joke.

contented.

are you getting on all right?

things are good.

things are fine with me here.

(m.)
to make fun (of, ).
to joke.

humourous.
in fun.
(f.)

to have the cheek (to).

(m.)

unanimously.

to give ones opinion; to vote.

158

to hold an opinion.

ones senses to be lost.

to be converted to the views (of, ).

or in my opinion.
(m.)

what is that to do with you?

a time-serving or self-interested friend.
or to achieve a goal.
to have a motive or interest.

to consult (with, ); to conspire.

in view.

keeping in view.

at a slow or slack pace.

(m.)

to be in a desired situation.

or the mind to be captivated (by, ).

to grow weary (the mind).

to turn away (the mind or heart) (in distaste, disgust).

to lose heart; to discourage somebody; to deter.
to desire.
pleasing.

dejected.

deceitful; disaffected.

a desire to remain unaccomplished.

() to feel displeasure or grief.
() to feel unwell.

159

to wish, to crave (for, ).

to touch the heart.

() to try to fathom someones mind.

to waver (the mind), to be awakened (appetite or

desire).
to discourage.
to take a firm resolve.

to come to the mind (e.g. a thought).

or to resolve.
to dislike.

to be withdrawn (affection or attention).

to feel brave.

() to divert or amuse (oneself).

to take offence.

to burden the mind.

to cause (one, ) to agree.

() to repress feelings or desires; to be dejected.

to say to oneself.
to resolve firmly.

() to satisfy a wish.
to be fixed (mind).
() to captivate.

to fall in the opinion (of); to be forgotten.

to be mentally or emotionally refreshed.
to feel a sense of relief.

in the heart, to oneself (of unspoken words).

I feel at home here.

in thought, word and deed.

(f.)

160

or to fulfil a vow.
to make a vow.

to abscond, to flee.

to cancel.

(m.)

, or to make a plan.
(f.)

or () to agree; to suit; to be compatible

(persons).

to barely escape death.

to have absolutely no free time.

to work oneself to death.

to be killed; to be ruined; to sacrifice ones life for.

to hit a man when he is down.
to be infatuated(with, ).

a living dog is better than a dead lion.

(f.)

to be twisted; to turn; to be perplexed.

() to twist.
(m.)

to become dejected.
(m.)

or to feel upset.

to publicise, to make known.

(f.)

or to search with care.

161

hes too lazy to lift a finger.

(m.)

(colloq.) to flatter.
(f.)

to joke.
(m.)

to be useless.
to be of use.
(f.)

as the proverb goes.

to weep bitterly.
(m.)

to keep an emotion repressed.

(m.)

to make a draft; to write out a copy.

or to form or to develop a scheme or plan.

(m.)

to feel proud of; to raise one's head high.

to bow in reverence; to lower the head out of
shame.
(f.)
() to get drunk; to feel passion.

, or to bring someone to his senses.

to cost much.
(m.)

to have importance.

(m.)

162

postal charge(s).

to pay duty.

to levy a tax or duty.

(m.)

to be completed (a month); a monthly date to pass (as

for payment).
per month.

its been a month since my

son came.

I have been learning Hindi

for one month.
(m.)
- hairdo.

or to part the hair.

to do the hair.
(f.)

an ultimatum.

- (colloq.) to ask for; to borrow.

borrowed.
to lend.

to improve ones hand (at writing); to improve a skill.

(f.)

- a complete fool; an incompetent person.

to die.
(f.)

to beat (a record).
to suffer defeat.
(m.)

163

or to mourn.

to express condolences (to, ).

sole, single.

for just a moment.

- in name only.
(f.)

to what extent? How far?

(f.)

to rack the brains.

to harass.

to become angry.

to make strenuous efforts.

a disaster to fall (upon, ).

to receive or accept respectfully.

to be ones responsibility.

not to show displeasure.

to be fortunate.

to attribute (fault, etc.).

(m.)

to be proud or vain; to be offended (at, ).

to show respect; to heed, to obey.
to be dependent (on, ).

to take amiss, to be offended.

an accepted fact or case, something understood.

(m.)
to explain the meaning (of, ).
to denote, to imply.

164

truth to tell.
(m.)

, , or to have sex.

in the usual way.

(f.)

to become detached from the world.

to accumulate riches.

to be caught by worldlyattachments.

neither of two goals wasachieved.

to disappoint (hopes).
(f.)

to sting.

to boast.

to bite (dog).

to fire a rifle or a gun.

to commit suicide; to die fighting.

to be given a beating.

() to cause somebody to be beaten.

to bustle; to hasten; to toil.
to kick.
(m.)

to squander money.

to be cut off or stolen (property).

or to embezzle property.

(stolen) things to be recovered.

(f.)

to massage; to flatter.

165

(m.)

() to understand a persons nature.

to ask for someones health.

to appeal (to someone, ).

to get angry.

(formal) how is your good health?

(f.)

porcelain.

to be disposed of (dead body).

() to destroy.

an utter idiot.

a clay statue; the perishable body; a nitwit.

dirt cheap.

to ruin; to beat severely.

to throw earth; to conceal (crime, fault).

to be in a miserable plight; to be humiliated or

embarrassed; the last rites not to be duly performed.
to be destroyed.
(f.)

to deduct interest.

( ) to date a letter, to finish a letter.

(m.)

to speak of or to regard oneself
-
complacently.
This idiom refers to the way people flatter parrots when praising
them for mimicking the human voice. See next idiom.
- to flatter.
(f.)

to pass the term; to remain in prison for the full term.

a term to be complete or to expire.
to extend a term.

166

- jointly, collectively; together; in a concerted manner.

- similar; identical.

- to meet (people), to have social interactions.

- to accommodate all in the gains/profits, to share

duly with all.
to live in harmony.
(f.)

a sweet thing.

to say sweet words.

to wink.
(f.)

, or to add up.
to be obtained (a total).
(m.)

a joke.

a treacherous friend.

to strike a stealthy blow.

to sweeten the pill, to soften the blow.

tender looks, affectionate or romantic glances.

untroubled sleep.
slow torture.

to keep (one) waiting.

or to expect, to await.

(m.)

-
to return disappointed or unsuccessful.

he was visibly offended.

shame!

167

you get what you deserve.

may what you say be true.

before daybreak.

to become ulcerated (the mouth); to taunt.

to come off with flying colours.

on waking.

to become drawn (the face).

to turn the face ( , ); to confront.

to incur disgrace; to punish.

to incur disgrace.

to suffer great damage; to eat ones words.

to fall on the face.

to remain with the mouth agape.

to curry favour; to caress.

to make faces; to mock.

to hide the face; to avoid.

to turn yellow with fear (face).

to talk in whispers; to gossip.

to make a wry face; to put on airs.

( ) to poke the nose (into); to beg, to request.

to be on the tip of the tongue (a word).

to gaze at the face.

just look at (his, your) face! What a nerve!

() to restrain from speaking.

to put the mouth or lips (into, or to, ); to favour.

to avoid, to dislike a person.

to stop the mouth; to silence.

to become angry in the presence (of, ).

() to spit on somebodys face; to insult.

168

to go without food.

to be shameless.

to look taken aback.

to be on the tip of the tongue (word); to be

uttered (words, remarks).

to utter words.

or to look astonished.

to turn pale.

to puff up the cheeks; to become angry.

to turn the face, to avoid; to put to flight.

to show displeasure.

to make faces, to mock.

to sit silent.

to gape, to yawn; to give a forced laugh.

to grimace.

to water (the mouth); to feel nausea.

to speak kindly.

to fill the mouth, to feed well.

to browse.

to be gratified.

to read to oneself; to mumble.

to water (the mouth).

to speak indistinctly or inaudibly.

to be down in the mouth.

face to face.

to silence someone.

to be dry (the mouth).

flowers to fall from the lips (of, ).

to oneself.

169

?lit. This face and (you want) red lentil
soup? Used as a retort to someone who wants more than they
deserve.
(red lentil soup) used to be served as a delicacy in
wealthy households.

(m.)

(formal) to be kind to pay a visit.

() to agree, to suit.

to settle, to appoint.

(m.)

to strike with the fist.

openly, frankly; loudly.

chiefly.

to find guilty; to sentence.

(m.)

it doesnt matter.

to glance sidelong (at, ).

(m.)

to grow fat.

(f.)

to bribe.

to be generous.

to close the fist.

a fistful.

170

not at all.

(f.)

() to want to urinate.

(m.)

the point, or question is this.

(f.)

a long time.

long-standing; ancient.

for some time or for a long time (into the future).

a long time ago.

or to impoverish.

something obtained for nothing.

, involved in, busy with, occupied.

to be involved in, to be busy with.

(m.)

to hell with him.

death to (someone or something).

an abnormally fat person.

(f.)

with this intention.

, , or to fulfil a desire.
to make a vow.

to have a desire or intention.

the prime of life.

(f.)

171

to encounter, to meet.

to be on friendly terms (with, ).

an old acquaintance.

(m.)

to examine closely.

to come under consideration or notice.

(f.)

to arise (trouble).

or to remove or alleviate difficulty.

(f.)

an unfortunate person.

to befall (misfortune).

(m.)

to reduce to poverty.

to be in extreme need.

(f.)

pretended love or affection.

or to feel love (for, , ).

to declare ones love.

to make available.

to be available.

(m.)

to give one a hard time.

() a weak or timid person.

(f.)

to teach a painful lesson.

arrogantly.

to act in an affected or haughty way; to boast.

172

(m.)

to get someones attention or favour.

to make strenuous efforts.

(m.)

to be unable to pass water.

urine to be passed (through fear).

to urinate (through fear).

to fall out of the frying pan into the fire.

It literally means to get out of urine to fall on faeces.

(m.)

an unwelcome presence.

to be extremely happy.

to rain in torrents.
(m.)

to unite or to combine.

of matching style or type; congenial, sociable.

to agree with; to harmonise.
- familiarity.

to be similar.
(m.)

to hold a fair; to convene a large gathering.

or a large crowd to assemble.
(m.)

to exert oneself.

to bring its reward (hard work).

(f.)

please; by your kindness.

to show kindness.
(m.)

173

to level an area; to raze a building.

to leave the battlefield.
to take flight.

to enter a fight or war.

- a battlefield.
(f.)

to hold a grudge.

to be sad or sorry.

to refine, to purify; to wash clothes.

to dirty; to defecate.

a wealthy person.

to have bad sight.

- approximately.

an important person; a wealthy client.

a casual or inattentive look.
roughly; in general.
(m.)

- to be disgraced.

to string pearls; to be silver-tongued; to cry.

to coin money.
(m.)

to make into wax; to melt.

lit. a nose of wax: a fickle-minded person.

a tender-hearted woman.
(m.)

a controversy to emerge.
(m.)

174

to bargain; to settle price.

to raise price; to bid; to outbid.

to give for a price.
to cut a price.
(m.)

to feel love or compassion (for, ).

to be ensnared by delusion.
/
(f.)

a period of grace.
to allow time.

to be allowed time.
(m.)

to be lost (chance).

or to arise (chance).
opportune, fit.

to let an opportunity slip.

(f.)

a whim, an impulse.

() an idea or whim to come into the mind; to be

moved or thrilled.
to surge (the sea); to be capricious.

to bring before; to provide.

to be present; to remain in attendance; to exist.

present circumstances.
(f.)

to die a natural death.

to fall prey to death, to die.

face to face with death.

175

to put to death.

/ to risk one's life; to be at deaths door.
(f.)

to break the silence.

or to remain silent.
(f.)

to bell the cat; to invite danger.

- to speak unintelligibly (through fear).

(m.)

to feel confident, to have trust in.

to trust; to believe.
to assure.

to believe, to trust, to have faith in.

to be or feel confident, to have faith in.

in a suitable way; in any way.

in whatever manner; to whatever extent.

as aforesaid.

according to ones wish.

in reality.

- from time to time.

(m.)

to win fame; to earn a reputation.

to sing the praise (of, ).

to acknowledge the fame or excellence of.

176

- evasive remarks.
(f.)

to remember.

to memorise; to remember.
to remind.

(formal) to (be gracious to) remember.

to make friends with; to take as lover or mistress.

to become or be friendly with.
sociable.
(f.)

to form a friendship or liaison.

as normal, usually.

just in this way; simply; by chance.

be it so, as you please.
- to berate, to curse.

worth seeing.
(m.)

-- independence day.

(m.)

shes looking beautiful today.

lit. to dye a black blanket: to waste ones

time.

to impress another (with ones manner,
importance).

177

state of the market.

to fade; to grow pale.

to enjoy oneself to the full.

to make an impression; to influence.

to be bright; to become very successful.

(or ) to be in the mood (for, ).
an inconvenience.

to dye something; to fall in love.

splendid!
(f.)

to enjoy to the full, to relish; to be overjoyed.

to lose lustre; to go pale.

(or ) to be caught red-handed.

(m.)

to suffer sorrow.

-- sorrows and sufferings.

to cause grief or displeasure.

(f.)

to squander money.

// to misappropriate.

to pawn.
(f.)

Achilles heel.

to have a rupture.

to be under somebody's sway; to be under subjugation.

or to know intimately; to know

someones secrets.
to know the truth or a secret.

178

a nerve to vibrate; to have a bad feeling about

something.
a nerve to be swollen.

to have a deep effect, to infuse each and every

nerve.
to lose virility.
- to the core; utterly.

to be emaciated; to be anaemic.

/ to lose virility andvitality; to become impotent.

/ to be inhigh spirits; to be excited.
(f.)

() to create, to produce (as literary work).

(f.)

to repeat something over and over.

(f.)

a tiny amount.

not a chance.

not to care a brass farthing.

not a drop.
minutely.
(m.)

to reject; to cancel.
(m.)

he elbowed his way throught the

crowd.
(f.)
() to waste, to throw away.
(m.)

- association, social interactions.

to be out of practice.

179

to gain practice.

- to be or become close friends.

(m.)

a very small quantity.

(m.)

() to relish.

to drop or trickle; to be in full bloom.

to be delighted.
(f.)

to strike. (colloq.)

to give acknowledgement or receipt.

(f.)

fried food.

, or to cook.
(f.)

or to follow tradition.

formal relations.

formally; formally speaking.

to diminish gradually (to a zero); to vanish.

that will be very good (an arrangement).

- left over; indifferent; slack.
- a forlorn hope.
(m.)

to pity; to show kindness.

(f.)

to make a mountain out of a molehill.

180

a tiny amount.

- little by little.

- to know each and every thing, to know the minutest

details.
(m.)
or to talk only of oneself.
or to sing a song.
(m.)

to reveal a secret.
(m.)

lit. who will say the king is naked: no one

dares point their finger at a person in authority.

to please; to prevail (on, ).

to be pleased (with, ); to consent (to, ).

(f.)

to fight.

to create a disturbance.
(f.)

shortly before midnight.

until late at night.
late at night.

a long or bad night.

(m.)

a single soul; on ones own.

(f.)

to agree (with); to be agreeable (as climate).

() to rein in, to curb.
or to adopt a son.

to bring under rein, or control.

181

(m.)

to slink away; to veer off the road.

an avenue to open up; hurdles in the way to be

cleared.
wayfaring; a stranger.
to wait (for).

to allow to pass, to give passage to.

to go one's own way; to mind one;s own business.

be on your way!
(f.)

be off!

to open a way, to give access.

to measure the road: to wander about idly.

to be established (mutual confidence).

to find a (lost) road; to mend ones ways.

to make a way or path; to gain ground (in journey or

task).
to block access or exit.
to waylay.

to lose the way.

(m.)

to set off, to set out.

(f.)

to show favour.
(m.)

to become current.

to become current or customary.

(f.)

or to accept a bribe.
(f.)

182

to be angry.
(f.)

to be envious (of, ).

- to linger, to delay.
-
imperfectly.
(m.)

to speak hesitantly; to speak a language

or to turn the face (towards, ).

to find an attitudefavourable.

to change one's attitude; to turn one's face from one

direction to another; to change the direction.
to see eye to eye.
to turn towards, to look into the eyes of.
(f.)

to allow to go; to send off.

to take leave.
(f.)

to have a taste or fancy (for, ).

to give a blunt reply.

to become curt; to get dry or hard.

-
plain and simple (esp. food); without ghee; dry.
a superficial laugh.
(m.)

or to assume the form (of, ).

to assume the form or character.
to mar the beauty, to disfigure.
(m.)

to draw a line.

183

(f.)

refreshing.

to be frightened out of ones wits.

to shudder; to be scared to death.
to be frightened; to tremble.
(m.)

to break into tiny pieces.

(f.)

house of cards.

lit to sail on sand: to do something impractical.

lit. to extract oil from sand: to try to achieve

something impossible. Also .

to cut the throat.

(f.)

- to obstruct.

to place a prohibition.
(m.)

to infect (someone, with a disease).

to have a disease; to acquire a bad habit.

to fall ill; to acquire a bad habit.
to recover from illness.

for a few days.

from rising till resting: all day.

constant dropping wears the

stone away.
(m.)
to work for; to earn; to set up in business.
to lose ones livelihood.

184

to go out of business.
to obtain a position.
(f.)

a working woman.
(m.)

to break a fast.
to keep a fast.
(f.)

to earn ones bread.

to cry for bread, to be starving.

to bewail ones misfortunes.

that is a sad thing.
to sob bitterly.

a tearful face.
(m.)

, or to inspire awe.
to intimidate.

to be awed or intimidated.
(m.)

not a hair of the head to be harmed.

to be melted (the heart).
(m.)

to be angry.
(f.)

to be in full bloom.
(f.)

a commotion to take place.

(m.)

185

to cause an uproar.

(m.)

to weigh anchor.

or to drop anchor.
(m.)

loose; sexually dissolute.

or to tie on a loin-cloth; to gird the loins.

to lenghthen; to knock someone down.

or to make oneself scarce.
- an exhaustive list.

- to brag; to talk through one's hat.

(colloq.) a very good salary.

to enjoy a carefree sleep.

to sleep soundly.

to eat with appetite or zest.
(f.)

to treat all alike; to fail to show personal

consideration.
Its literal meaning is to drive all with one staff, a reference to the
use of staffs to drive cattle and other animals.
to grow lean.
(f.)

(pejor.) a conservative person.

to aim (at); to allude.

() to aim at.

186

it will cost you nothing.

to lie in wait.

it takes 5 minutes to make tea.

(m.)

to keep a tight rein.

to bridle.

to give free rein.

to keep under restraint; to withhold.

to take the reins in one's hand, to undertake the

control of.
(f.)

to be satisfied (desire).
(m.)

to be compatible; to rival.

to be begun; to resemble.
(f.)

to feel shame.

to mind ones sense of honour.

to preserve the honour.
(m)

or to spin a top.

to be or become infatuated.
Literally, to be a spinning top, i.e. to be emotionally unstable due
to infatuation.

to strike with a club; to speak harshly.

(f.)

to become friendly (with, ).

(m.)

- a foundling child.

187

Literally, a child of the road, i.e. a child abandoned in a public

place.

or to gossip.
(f.)

to fight, to wage war.

cause of strife or quarrel.

to sow strife.

to bring a quarrel upon oneself.

to caress.
(m.)

lit. laddoo in both hands: a win-win situation.

to have festivities; to have an easy gain.
to be well treated.

to build castles in the air.

Literally, to eat imaginary laddoos. Laddoo is a a ball-shaped
sweet popular in India, eaten especially in festive occasions. See
next idiom.
to revel within, to be very happy.
Literally, to break laddoos in ones mind.
(m.)
to be contracted (a habit).
(m.)

to tear to shreds.
to tear off a strip.
(f.)

to kick.

- over-laden, too burdened.

188

to eat quickly.
a handful.
at once.
(f)

to become entangled (in difficulty or in a trap).

(m.)

-- word by word.

word meaning, literal meaning.

(m.)

to be about to expire.
-- delivery, rhetorical style.

the lips to get dried up; to be scared mute.

or to open the mouth to speak.

to come to the lips (words); to be uttered, expressed.

to be tongue-tied, to keep silent.

to be on the verge of death.

-/- (m.)

- to adulate, to curry favour by flattering.

(f.)

a wave to come; delight to be felt; to have a fit.

to be rough (the sea); to crawl (snake).
to enjoy oneself to the full.

(m.)

to repress anger or frustration.
to bleed.
to kill.
(f.)

(euph.) to be agitated.

189

(f.)

to backbite.
(f.)

the coast to be clear; to have no obstruction.

(m.)

to be reduced from wealth to poverty.

(or ) (iron.) an invaluable remark.

to be immensely heavy; to be a big shot.

to be doggedly persistent; to turn a deaf ear.

(f.)

to bear enmity (against, ).

- something said in a roundabout way.

- to call a spade a spade.
(f.)

this coat?

how much did you spend on

to give effect to, to bring into force.

to compel, to force.

to be obliged, to be constrained.
(f.)

or to feel shame or a sense of modesty.

to protect the honour.
to die of shame.
(f.)

to treat everone equally. See

under .

or to walk with the help of a stick.

(f.)

190

or to caress.
(f.)

to be kicked; to be spurned.
to kick; to spurn.

someone used to be beaten cannot
be counselled by words.
(f.)
to curse.

to call down a curse (on, ).

(m.)

to profit; to take advantage.

to sell at a profit.
(m.)

a red coal; something red hot; someone hot with anger.

to glare with anger.

the police/a policeman.

Red is the colour of the hats worn by policemen in Puducherry.
to flush; to grow angry.
(colloq.) blood.

to go red in the face; to be hot with rage.

(colloq.) an artery.
to prosper.

communist army.
(m.)

to be greedy (for, ); to covet.

to tempt.

theres no vice like avarice.

to yield to desire.
(m.)

- to educate, to nourish, to rear.

191

(m.)

in this respect.

or all sense of shame to be lost.

to notice; to have regard.
(f.)

to resolve; to announce a resolution.

to follow the track.

to follow tradition.

to follow the beaten path.

to follow an established course; to follow tradition.

to deviate from the path (of normal practice).

- to ruin completely.

- plastering and whitewashing; patching up; (fig.) spoiling

completely.

(m.)

to give tips of the trade to an expert.

Luqman was a wise man mentioned in the Quran and about whom
many stories were written in Arabic and Turkish literature.

dictionary meaning.
(m.)

/ to have fun; to enjoy.

(m.)

in his judgment.
to calculate.

to run away with something.

to ruin.

to involve others in one's fall.

192

- with much difficulty, somehow or other.

not to have one to receive nor two to give: to

have nothing to gain or lose.
to perish along with. Also .
(m.)

not the slightest trace.

to equip.
(f.)

- to be delighted.
- to roll about.
to lie down.
(f.)

like a corpse: inertly.

to fall in battle.

- to be exhausted.
(m.)

to be ungrateful to a benefactor.
(m.)

to be greedy.

greed leads to nothing.

(m.)

to acknowledge supremacy.

to cross swords (with), to wage war.

to iron.

a battle/war to be waged.
to fight.

to turn into steel, to become as hard as steel.

made of iron; firm; adamant.

strong heart; heart of stone. Also .

193

a difficult job; a hard nut to crack.

diamond cuts diamond: cunning outwits
cunning.
lit. to chew on iron: to undertake a difficult task.
(m.)

-
to carry coals to Newcastle.
Its literal meaning is to sell needles at the house of a blacksmith.
(f.)
to concentrate on; to be deeply attached to.
engrossed in; deeply concentrated on.

by day and by night.

(f.)

to plead a case.
(m.)

in the nick of time.

punctual.

or
to kill time.
to lose time.

to miss an opportunity.
(m.)

to break a promise.
to make a promise.

to adhere to one's word, to implement one's

promise. Also .

to break a promise; to break one's word.

to be pledged; to be committed.

194

to bind by promise or commitment.

to promise, to commit; to make a contract.

(m.)

to weigh.
(f.)

to die.
(m.)

to vomit.

nausea, qualm.
(m.)

to grant a boon; to donate.

(m.)

to cut off a slice; to page a book.

(m.)

next year.

to receive, to collect.
(m.)

to imagine; to suspect.

to build up fantasies. Also

.
Literally to cook imaginary pulao rice.

to happen, to take place.

(m.)

to strike.

to miss a blow.
(m.)

- to make money.
- to prosper.

195

(f.)

or to sacrifice or devote oneself.

(m.)

to invoke (in) the name of.

a connection to exist.

to have to do (with, ), to concern.

to be concerned with; to have dealings with.

to applaud.
(f.)

to applaud, to praise.

to revel in praise or applause.

- nonsense.

- to talk nonsense.
(m.)

optionally.
(m.)

to develop.

the year before last.

(m.)

to be exercised (control or discipline).

(m.)

to place an obstacle; to interfere.

(m.)

a thought to occur.
to think, to reflect.

196

to look at with an odd expression.

(m.)

triumphant.

() to conquer, to defeat.
(m.)

to distribute.
(f.)

to become widowed.
(m.)

to destroy.
(f.)

to be in dire straits.
to suffer misfortune.

to endure misfortune.

to misunderstand, to draw a wrong conclusion.

(m.)

to delay.
(m.)

to enjoy oneself.

an antonym.
(m.)

(formal) to give an account.

having no power or choice.

(m.)

to raise a controversy/objection.
to debate.

197

(m.)

to marry.

epithalamium, wedding songs.

(m.)

to instil or strengthen confidence.

(m.)

to spoil happiness.

knot or bundle of poison: an ill-intentioned and

unwelcome person.
(m.)

() to spread, to expand (e.g. territory, borders); to

develop (activity).
in detail.
(m.)

an explosion to occur.
(f.)

to be on the increase.
(m.)

swiftly.
(m.)

, or to assume aspect (of, ); to play

the part (of).
(m.)
to perform an act; to conduct oneself (towards, ); to
make use of.
to be of use.

in the broad sense of the word.

(m.)

mental activity.
to trade.

198

this mood pervades society.

(m.)

to make a vow.

(f.)

to doubt.
(m.)

there is no doubt about this.

to doubt; to be suspicious of someone ().

to cast a doubt (upon, ).
(f.)

not to know from Adam.

(iron.) some cheek!

to turn up, to make an appearance.

to gaze in astonishment.
to give form or shape.

not to turn up; to be absent.

to recognise by the appearance.

to make a likeness (of, ); to assume an

appearance; to make a face.
- looks, appearance.

of sceptical temperament.
(m.)

to pursue a hobby.

(m.)

a bud to blossom; a cause of astonishment to arise.

199

(colloq.) to cause a minor row.

(m.)

to score a century.

may you live a hundred years!.

(f.)

() to recognise.
(m.)

or hard times to come.

Shani, the Hindu version of Saturn, is said toreward a person after
death according to their deeds in life. He is considered a harsh
punisher of unrepentant sinners and evil-doers.
(f.)
to swear an oath.

to say an oath.
(f.)

to cure.

to recover.
(f.)

good night.
(m.)

- plagiarist.

- a lexicon.

- a part of speech.

- the origin of a word; grammatical root.

- a particular form or style of words or speech.

- phraseology.
word by word.
verbatim.

- a vocabulary.

200

(f.)

to come for protection.

to grant shelter, to harbour.

(f.)

to suffer shame.
(f.)

to participate; to form a partnership.

(f.)

a perfect gentleman.

to have no sense of gentlemanliness.

(f.)

- meat and alcohol.

to booze, to have a bout of drinking.

to brew.
(m.)

to include, to make one a participant.

to take part.
(f.)

on this condition.
unconditionally.

, , or to make a condition, to negotiate;

to bet.
to win a bet.
to lose a bet.
(f.)

to feel shy; to be ashamed.

to be ashamed; to be bashful.
shame on you!

something to be ashamed of, disgraceful thing.

to hide one's head.

201

to be ashamed; to feel shy.

to have no sense of shame.

/- to die of shame.

to hang the head down through shame.
(m.)

to wield weapons, to fight.

to be checked (the king in chess).

to check the king in chess; to instigate; to flatter; to loosen.

check and checkmate.
(m.)

a honey bee.

or a honeyed knife: a secret enemy.

to cherish something useless.
(f.)

wedding celebration to commence.

A shehnai is a wind instrument similar to the oboe played in
marriage processions in India.

to pacify, to quiet down.

to keep calm; to keep quiet, to be silent.

to be quiet; to die.
(f.)

faults to appear.

to find faults; to produce something new.

(m.)

or to play festive music, to rejoice.

(f.)

to whet, to give intensity.

to assume an air of importance; to lord it over.

202

to be broken (pride).
to whet, to sharpen.

/ to give oneself airs; to boast.

to look very impressive, to be a picture of grandeur.

a fair name to be tarnished.
(m.)

() to curse.

to keep awake the whole night.
-
to evade; to dilly-dally.
(f.)

misfortune to befall.

wretched, cursed; infamous.

hardly ever; improbably.

to publish, to bring to light.

(m.)

to tighten the grasp.

to torture.

to hold tight in one's grasp.

to fall into the clutches (of).
(f.)

to suffer defeat.
to defeat.
(f.)

hes suffering from dysentery.

I have no complaint against him.
to complain.

to remove cause of complaint.

203

(m.)

to hunt; to pursue as prey ().

() to hunt.

to fall prey (to, ).

to relax (the body, or a law).

(f.)

with difficulty.

educated people, polite society.

(f.)

to deal quickly (with, ); to make haste.

(m.)

to give a headline; to entitle.

(f.)

to confine in a glass bottle; to bring under control.

take a look at yourself!

(m.)

to give thanks (for, ).

(m.)

to have fun.

to count, to calculate.

/
to be countless.

(m.)

to urge or to set on a dog.

(m.)

or a sharp pain to be felt.

(f.)

204

, , or to brag (about, ).
to be boastful.
(m.)

or
to recite poetry.

an ass in lion's skin.

/ to do a risky job.

to undertake a life-threatening risk.

to save somebody from the jaws of
death.
equality of treatment to exist.
to become pert; to be egged on.

to be left over.
(m.)

or to start a commotion; to quarrel.

a rascal.

horde of troublemakers. Also .

a tale that knows no end, any long-winding thing.

It literally means the devils guts. Devils guts is a folk name of a
genus of parasitic plants. Perhaps the idiom refers to those plants.
to hold a candle to the devil.
Aarti is a Hindu religious ritual in which candles are lit for the gods.
a quarrelsome woman.
Literally, the Devils aunt.
to out-Herod Herod.
( )/
passion; to be enraged.
(m.)

to be obsessed by a devilish

or to make noise.
(f.)

to acquire a reputation.

205

to give publicity.
(m.)

help yourself.

to satisfy a desire.
(m.)

to toil.

to commence.
Ganesh is considered the god of beginnings, and as such he is
honoured at the start of rituals and ceremonies.
(f.)
to come in first class; to get the highest mark.

(m.)

to compile.
(m.)

to give a sign.

or concisely.
(m.)

to abridge.
in short.
(m.)

to associate (with, ).
() to accompany.

to attach oneself (to, ).

- companionship.
(m.)

to collect.

206

(m.)

to collect.
(m.)

to inflict suffering.
(m.)

there is no doubt about this.

doubt to be felt.
(m.)

to come into contact.

(m.)

() to edit.

to complete.

completely.
(m.)

in this connection.
() to join.

in connection (with, ), concerning.

watch your step.

mind what you say.

hold your tongue.

to look after with care.

(f.)

() to envisage.

United Kingdom.
(m.)

207

a coincidence.
by chance.

to comb the hair.

(m.)

to be astounded.
(f.)

to treat harshly.

to deal with strictly; to be harsh.

harshly.
(f.)

() to betroth.

to bring someone to his senses.

to be watchful.

to alert.
(f.)

to punish.

to be punished.
-

- the day was spent on this and that.

(m.)

with a cracking noise; instantly.

(m.)

to remain true to ones word; to live honourably.

(m.)

or to lose heart.
(m.)

208

to suffer a shock or blow.

/ to suffer a blow; to suffer a terrible shock.

in a state of shock.

- at all times.
(f.)

to preside over.
(f.)

() a craze or passion (for, ) to obsess one.

(m.)

to be always moving, restless.

(m.)

() to get a shock; to be numb with fear; to faint.

to fall silent.

dead silence to reign.

(m.)

to dream.

to be very short-lived, to have disappeared too

soon.
to be merely fictional; to be beyond reach in reality.
not even in dreams; under no circumstances.
(m.)

, or to spring, to rush.
quick.

or to succeed.
(f.)

to prove ones innocence.

all round, in all directions.

209

all told.

in its entirety.

to prefer.
(m.)

to establish an agreement.
(m.)

on obtaining an opportunity.
from time to time.
prematurely.
(m.)

what is new?

to make equal, comparable.

in the same way; to the same extent.

a pirate.
(m.)

to honour ().
(m.)

() to complete; to organise an event.

(m.)

to fire a gun; to overpower.

to impose on.

to be conquered.
(m.)

term of address or reference to a Sikh.

(f.)

210

to gallop.

simple language.

hurried check-up; brief examination.

or perfunctorily.

/ cursory glance.
(m.)

this has nothing to do with you.
to have dealings (with, ).

to be or become cold; to become paralysed; to die.

(f.)

cold to be felt.

to spend.

to be spent/expended.
(f.)

counsel is never out of date.

(f.)

to crucify.

(m.)

( ) to treat well, kindly.

(m.)

to earn reward (for good deeds).

(f.)

to act as a vehicle, to carry.

to ride.

211

in an unforced, easy manner.

easily; softly; in a low tone.
(m.)

to endure.

to make easy.
(m.)

to support; to encourage.

() to support oneself (on or against); to rely on.

with the support (of, ).

- safe and sound.

(f.)
to learn how to behave.
conveniently, easily.

to choose ones words with care.

(m.)

lit. truth does not feel fire: truth has nothing to

fear.
(m.)
cast from one mould: identical.

the very image (of, ); perfectly made; beautiful.

to cast in a mould, to shape.
(m.)

life father, like son.

The literal meaning is the son of the ascetic will play with snakes.
Maybe this idiom is associated with the legendary sage Jaratkaru,
who was an ascetic sage (). He married Manasa, the goddess
of snakes, and she gave birth to Astika, the sage who saved a

212

serpent when the kind Janamejaya made a massive sacrifice of

serpents.
to counter the effect of snake-bite.
to burn with envy.
once bitten, twice shy.

to try to see what does not exist.

a venomous being.

to make desperate bids in vain.

snake-bite convulsions.

-
to undergo a metamorphosis.
to render a snake ineffective by charming.

to deliberately invite danger. See also

under .

to be faced with risk of life.

as the crow is, so the egg shall be.

to nourish an enemy. Also

.

- to face a dilemma.
The literal meaning of the idiom conveys the image of someone
caught between a snake and a mole.
to kiss the hare's foot.
to rear a snake, to put a viper in ones bosom.
( )
snake without a stake.

to cast a chill over, to be rendered still.
to be in dangerous company.
(f.)

, while theres life theres hope.

or to heave a sad sigh.
to breathe convulsively.
asthma.

to kill a

213

to draw a deep breath; to hold the breath.

to be short of breath.
to breathe out.

to be breathless.

to draw a deep breath; to pant.

until ones last breath.
(f.)

// one's credit or good will to be

gone.
one's credit or good will to increase.
one's credit or good will to be firmly established.

350.

3500.

lit. not in seven lifetimes: never.

to go begging.

to keep away from all eyes, to keep well indoors.

- guile.
- to be guileless; to betoo gullible.
- to barter; to raise objections.

across the seven seas, very far.
(m.)

a playmate.

a classmate.

to be deprived of the company of.

to oblige to accompany.
to be cut off.

214

to give company or assistance; to take part in an

initiative; to support.
to be a loyal companion; to stand byunwaveringly.
to live together.

to thrust oneself on; to join a reluctant person.

to be always on somebody's heels, to constantly

hover around.
to involve someone in a tragedy.
to sleep with.

besides, apart from this; along with this.

together.

to have company; to stand by, to participate.

to be simply dressed.
of a single colour.

common sense.

a blunt refusal; a straight 'no'.

to clean, to cleanse; to sweep clean; to refine.

to say something frankly.

dirt looks dirtiest on a
snow-white surface.
to go unscathed; to goscot-free.
/ to get away with it; to gounscathed.
a frank statement/word.

to have a distinct delivery; to speak frankly.

to carry on without obstacles; to have asmooth go.

- openly, plainly.

- // to come clean.

215

to be sweptclean; to be clear.
(m.)

to be concerned with.

- face to face.

to confront, to come face to face.

to present, to bring in the presence of.

the house opposite.
frontal attack.

as seen by one.

to come face to face; to place an obstacle.

to come face to face; to confront.

social security.
(m.)

to be deprived of a protective hand.

shadows to be cast.

to cast a shadow; to show favour; to influence.

to be influenced by (a bad company), an association to

have its bad effect.
- to always hang around like a shadow;
to shadow somebody.
to come under the shelter or influence (of, ).
never to come near; to maintain a distance, to keep
oneself at a safe distance (from).
(m.)
two years ago.
year by year.
- year by year.
(f.)

216

when the cat is away the
mouse will play.
It literally means my mother-in-law isnt home so I dont fear
anyone.

European dress.

This expression comes from the word (sahib), which the

colonised Indians used when addressing the British.
(m.)
... how could he dare to?
bravely.

to act bravely.

one's courage to give way.

to get married (girl).

Sindoor ( ) is a cosmetic powder which Hindu women apply to

the parting of the hair after they get married.
(m.)
/ to hold sway, to control.

to introduce a new coin or a new currency.

to acknowledge the superiority/supremacy.

(f.)

or to lose ones senses; to act stupidly.
(m.)

to tyrannise.

to accomplish; to bring under subjection.

to carry into effect.

to depart for the other world.

go away!

217

(m.)

to take steps.

or to deploy all means to an end.

to hit a mark, to achieve a goal.
(m.)

to mourn.
(m.)

from the start.

with all ones heart; willingly.

to walk with the head held high; to walk on

tiptoe.
to free oneself of a burden or duty.
an impending or threatening disaster.
with all ones might; headlong.

on the head; head downwards.

go to hell!

to plait the hair; to adorn the hair.

to hang the head in shame or dejection.

or to feel giddy or faint.
to die.

to comb the hair.

to bow the head; to be shamed.
to have a splitting headache.

() to lay down ones life (for, ).

without head or foot: nonsensical.
to raise a great clamour.

to be impending (something bad).

to be heavy (the head); to feel giddy.
to take a burden upon oneself.
to nod or shake the head.

218

(m.)

anew.

excellent; first class.

from the start; first and foremost.

(m.)

/ lit. to have horns over the head: to have

a rare feature.
, to grow horns: to adopt weird ways.
to strike with the horns.

to find accommodation or shelter.

(f.)

to give advice.

to heed advice(of, ).
(f.)

to whistle (mouth/train).
to blow a whistle.
(f.)

rung of a ladder.

to come straight.

to straighten; to smooth; to adjust; to correct; to train; to

tame; to take aim.
to go straight (ahead).
/ simple, innocent; gentle; docile.
right hand.

to be put straight; to be shamed.

// favourable glance.

in a direct or straightforward way; smoothly.

straightforward talk; an easy point; a frank comment.

a straight path; moral course.

219

a straight line.
(m.)

to walk with the chest stuck out; to behave

pretentiously.
to stand upright; to stand undaunted, to brave bad
weather.
to brave it out.
to repress sorrow; to endure patiently.
to embrace.
(m.)

() to place on the head; to show respect.

to bow the head.

(m.)

to sleep an untroubled sleep.

(f.)

he had completely forgotten.

() consciousness to return.

() to remember.

() to remind someone of something.

or
to lose consciousness; to forget.

he paid not the slightest attention to anything
I said.

to be audible.

to get to hear; to overhear.

-
to turn a deaf ear.

-
hearsay.

(f.)

short-lived, certain to disappear soon.

220

Morning star is a name for the planet Venus when it appears in

the east immediately before sunrise. The name is also applied to
Mercury and the star Sirius.

to have a sleepless night.

the reply to be much beside the

question.
Literally ask the morning and the night answers.

- to dilly-dally, to evade.

- early (in the) morning. Also

-
.

from morning till evening, from dawn to dusk.

to get up on the wrong side of the

bed.

(m.)

convenient.
(m.)

to be a yes-man.
(f.)

- consumption of alcohol.
(m.)

or to search out.

to become drunk.

to be in a state of slight intoxication.

to be red; to be ripe (fruit); to flush (with anger or shame).

to light a lamp; to switch on a light.

my watch is slow.

/ (f.)

to have sexual intercourse.

221

to keep (good) company.

influence of a company.

to fall into bad company.

(f.)

to go away in silence.

(f.)

needlework.

or lit to make a needle into a spade or

spear: to attempt something vain.

to make a camel pass through the

eye of a needle.

to thread a needle.

to give an injection.

a dry answer; a flat refusal.

to say a flat 'no'.

to give a terse answer; to rebuke.

to come to the shore.

swollen.

what do you think of/how do you like this?

(m.)

to spin.

(m.)

to join, to unify.

to lay waste, to destroy.

(m.)

222

( ) the pot calling

the kettle black.
The literal meaning is the winnowing basket talks and what will the
sieve say, i.e. both are arguing who has the best holes (
).

(m.)

lit.to show a lamp to the sun: to do

something pointless.
or to set (the sun).
at sunset.

- solar system.
(f.)

he is not likely to come.

in these circumstances.
a tearful face.

to form a plan.

to show the face, to appear; to bring to pass

(situation); to confront (someone, ).

to take form and shape; to assume the form (of, );

to become, to grow.
to give shape or form; to impersonate; to make faces.
() to represent, to depict.
the fact or situation is ...
- outward appearance.
- condition, situation.
(m.)

to bore a hole.

(f.)

to impale, to torture.
(f.)

to warm.

223

(f.)

to keep in safe custody.

costing nothing; unwanted.
gratis.
(f.)

to go to bed.

, or to make a bed.
(m.)

to have a deceptive appearance.

(m.)

to come across one who is more than a

match.
A seer is an Indian measure equivalent to a little more than 2
pounds. The idiom indicates that a seer and a quarter is more than
one seer.
(f.)
he who serves others will prosper.

Literally, serve and eat dried fruit. Dried fruit () is prized for its
sweet taste and high nutritional value.
(f.)
to ruin ones health.

ones healthto recover.

(m)

per cent.

hundreds of, in hundreds.

(f.)

to make a sign; to wink.

a military uniform.
(f.)

to walk, to stroll.

224

(m.)

to wield a club; to beat.

() to beat.
(f.)

to remain silent.
(f.)

to count the cost.

- reflection, thinking.

deliberately, after considering all aspects/pros and

cons.
(m.)
to yield large quantities of gold, to yield riches.
to test gold (on a touch-stone) for purity.
to gild.

to rain gold: to make a fortune.

golden.

delicate food.

to squander ones wealth.

(v.)

bedroom.

lets go to sleep.

or completely correct.
This idiom has a connection with the Indian rupee. During British
rule and for a short while after independence, the rupee was divided
into 16 annas, so one rupee was 16 annas.

to abuse someone.

A a knotted black string tied round the neck as a charm. The

literal meaning of the expression is ironic.

one hundred and first.

225

leaving everything else, at the cost of all other

things.
to say something succinctly.
( ) to keep miles away from, to run away from.

A kos () is an ancient Indian measure of distance, equal to

approximately 2 miles.
to try in a hundred ways; to try through all possible
ways.
with all ones heart.
of different ways/types.
entirely.

(euphem.) cursing.

one in a hundred.

to be very embarrassed.

to be radiant; to be very generous.

to be garrulous.

stepfather.
(m.)

to trade; to strike a bargain; to purchase.

to go shopping.
(m.)

to breastfeed.

to postpone.
(m.)

to substitute (for, ).
(f.)

to establish.

226

permanently.

to decide.

to know for certain.

(m.)

to form an attachment (with, ).

(f.)

to compete.
(m.)

() to touch.
- contagious.

- a contagious disease.

distinctly; obviously; concisely.

(m.)

to come to mind.

to recollect; to learn by heart.

(m.)

() to mourn.

an undisputed matter.

to paint or make black; to fill a page with writing; to ruin

someones reputation.

to set free.
(m.)

to be acquired (habit).
by nature.

entirely by oneself; of ones accord.

227

(m.)

to lower the voice.

to raise the voice.

to prolong a note.

one's voice to be charged with emotion.

to join in singing; to accompany with an instrument.

(m.)

to play a part; to play the fool.

to represent a character.
to mime.
(m.)

() to taste.
to pay back.

or
natural that he should want to do this.
(m.)
to prove successful.

to have an interest (in, ).

to consume, to squander.
(m.)

to accept, to acknowledge; to grant.

(f.)

(formal) to accept.

(m.)

to cause a commotion.

its

228

to dismiss something as unimportant.

to roar with laughter.
to laugh loud.

to burst out laughing.

- / to laugh very hard.

- to kill oneself with laughing.
- to laugh, to joke.

- to pass the time; to live without cares.

to be laughed at.

we laughed at what he said.
(f.)

to be moved to laugh.
to make fun (of, ).
a laughing matter.

- merriment; with pleasure.

- laughing and joking.

to burst into laughter.

to suppress laughter.
in fun, as a joke.

or to take as a joke.

to be in a joking mood.
(m.)

to make trouble for oneself.

this will not be to your advantage.

to do ones duty.

to consider as right, to approve.

to pray (for one, ).

() to usurp a right; to dispossess wrongfully.

229

to concede a right; to administer justice.

to fight for ones rights.
fairly, deservedly.
(f.)

/ to treat with disdain.

(f.)

to emerge (truth, facts).

in fact.

to practice medicine.
-

- or to be taken aback.
(f.)

() to wish to defecate.
(m.)

to be jolted, to suffer shocks.

(m.)

to digest; to embezzle.

to usurp without leaving a trace.

to be assimilated; to be usurped/misappropriated.
(f.)

() to shave; to rob.

with all ones heart.

to be very fickle.
one in a thousand.

a long life.

230

! out of the way!

! watch out! Get out of the way!

(m.)

to be stubborn; to be cross; to make a firm promise.

- stubborn; unjust.

- to be obstinate.
(f.)

a craving to be felt.

a mad dog.
(f.)
to go on strike.
(f.)

to make haste.

or to be alarmed, agitated; to clear out hurriedly.

to cause an uproar.
in confusion, or haste.
(f.)

to be dislocated (a joint).

to tremble (the whole body).

- () to thrash someone.
a bone to crack.

or to break the bones; to beat severely.

to be reduced to a skeleton.
a bag of bones.
(m.)

to come into the power or clutches (of, ).

(f.)

() to kill.

231

to be incurred (infamy or suffering).

or to incur mortal sin or infamy.

(m.)

or to take up arms.
to wage an armed struggle.
(f.)

a blister in the palm; something insignificant.

to give a helping hand.

/ to risk ones life.

/ to complete a work expediently.

or to clap the hands.
to be obtained.
(f.)

to what extent?

to a great extent.
to do something excessive.
of the best kind.

to reach a limit.
to fix boundaries or limits.
unlimited; extremely.

to go beyond the limits.

beyond bounds.
(m.)

to wound; to destroy.

Delhi is still far off: there is still much to be

done.
Legend has it that, during his campaign in Bengal,Sultan
Ghyasuddin Tughlaq sent a message to Hazrat Nizam-ud-dinAuliya, the Sufi saint, threatening to kill him on his arrival in Delhi.

232

The saint laughed and remarked Delhi is still far off in Persian. The
Hindi version of this idiom is .
(m.)

to eat up.

- greedily, quickly (of eating).

(m.)

() to bribe.
-

- more haste, less speed.

(m.)

to miscarriage.

to cause an abortion.
() to be pregnant.
(m.)

() to attack.
(m.)

to bathe.
(f.)

shame to be felt.

at every moment.

of every moment; perpetual.

every type of.

-- jack-of-all-trades; all-rounder.
(f.)

to move, to work; to be up to ones tricks; to interrupt.

never at all; absolutely not.

(m.)

to confiscate.

233

(f.)

or to ruin an endeavour.
(m.)

a blot to fall (on name or reputation).

to make out letters.

to write by syllables: to write clearly and well.

word by word, literally.

to compose (for printing).

word for word.

a full account.
(m.)

confusion to arise or reign.

a green garden or park; delusive hopes.

() to raise delusive hopes.

or
to be nourished (delusive hopes).

() to look always on the bright side.
- may you prosper and be happy.

- to beat 1-0.
(m.)

to regard or determine as unlawful; to do what is

unlawful.
unlawful; ill-gotten (gains); illegitimate (child).
to live on ill-begotten gains or on others' earnings.
(f.)

to be feverish, to have a temperature.

(f.)

to appear in a rosy light.
(m.)

234

what harm or inconvenience is this to you?

to cause loss or damage.
(m.)

/ to pay for damages.

(m.)

to be accused/blamed.

to cause an accusation to be levelled or a blame to

devolve on.
(m.)
to be delighted.
(m.)

to solve a problem.

to be ploughed (land).
to plough.
(m.)

to be swallowed; to be accepted (idea).

to cut somebody's throat; to cause immense

loss.
to silence someone().

to lighten a burden; to ease; to abate (price); to lower.

- slowly; gently.
(m.)

to form circle or ring; to surround; to besiege.

(f.)

to strike confusion or terror.

(m.)

to swear, to take an oath.

to give an oath.

to take an oath.

235

(m.)

or to beat someone to a pulp.

- to be concerned with ones selfish interests.

to slaughter, to slay.

to be slaughtered, to be slain.
(m.)

to make a din or outcry.

to sound the attack; to shout a war cry.

(f.)

to spread (news).
to ventilate.

to be inaccessible.

direction of the wind; nature of a situation.

to sail with the wind; to move with the times.

to be going like the wind; to be in great

haste; to be delighted.
or to attempt the impossible.
to blow (the wind).

to sail against the wind.

to boast; to romance.

to be polluted (the air); to worsen (situation).

to evaporate.

or to talk to oneself; to be very high

(building); to be swift.
to be quarrelsome by nature.

an airfield; airport.
a rumour.

parachute.

236

- vanished completely.
(m.)

to refer(to, ); to quote.
(f.)

or to place in custody.
(m.)

to be unconscious; (colloq.) to be baffled.

to come to ones senses.
to be in ones right mind.
(m.)

to raise a commotion.
(f.)

to long for().

longing to be manifest.

/ a desire to be fulfilled.
to fulfil a desire.

a longing/craving to remain unfulfilled.

(f.)

to cease to be.

to be ruined, to be forced out of existence.

to be existent; to be worth reckoning.
(f.)

, , or to shout.

to rave.

- to tell lies.

or
to boast.
(m.)

to resort to violence or coercion.

237

to fail (strength or nerves).

(f.)

to behave in an exaggerated way.

to boil (the pot); to gossip; to be concocted (a plan).

(f.)

to keep or place (prisoner) in detention.

to cause to appear; to hand over; to prepare.

(f.)

to answer a roll call; to be always present.

to be in constant attendance.
(f.)

the market to be wound up; things to come to an end.

to shop; to open or keep a shop.
- to go shopping.

marketing activity to begin.

(m.)

hands off!

to raise the hand; to greet; to pray (for); to strike; to

abandon (hope or claim).
to be dislocated (the wrist).
to be helpless or powerless.
to be weak.
handicraft.

gift, donation.

to protest; to show astonishment.

to come under the control (of, ).
empty-handed; idle.

to desist (from, ); to abstain.

to fold the hands (in greeting or supplication).

238

to strike out; to beat; to squander money.

to come empty-handed.

give someone an inch and theyll take

an ell.
or to be helpless.
be on the tip of the tongue (word).
or with ones arms folded.
to sit doing nothing.
to practice a skill of hand.
to join hands.

to get out of control.

to carry away quickly.

(m.)

lit. a wood-apple eaten by an elephant:
something good only in appearance.

only an elephant can bear the
elephant's load.

what is obvious is not
always the ultimate truth.
to be very rich; to go high up; to become renowned.
to keep an elephant.

to become very plump.

(f.)

or to suffer loss.

to sigh, to lament.
(f.)

to be defeated.
() to defeat.
(m.)

- how are you getting on?

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in any case.

present-time; recent.

to get into a state of ecstasy or frenzy.

at, or for the present time; recently.
(f.)

in a state of drunkenness.
in any case.

age is taking its toll on him.

to include; to dominate or be prominent.

(m.)

to obtain.
(f.)

to despise.

to look down upon.

(f.)

() to have hiccups.

() to hiccup uncontrollably; to sob bitterly.

(m.)

to emasculate, to castrate.
(m.)

to spell; to probe a matter.

to find fault with.

to show kindness.
(f.)

to guide, to direct.
(f.)

() to guard, to take care of.

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carefully; in safety.

to memorise.
(m.)

to give; to bequeath.
(f.)

() to protect.
(f.)

to hold up one's head.

to have the cheek; to feel up to; to muster courage.

to encourage; to give freedom.

to muster courage; to gather resolution.

to act bravely.

to lose courage, to be demoralised.

(m.)

to be scared to death.

to be angry; to envy; to suffer extreme agony.

to be gratified.

to break (the heart).

to be moved by emotion.
senseless.

to go out of ones mind.

to embrace.
(m.)

to take to flight; to vanish.

(f.)

() to imitate ().
in emulation(of, ).
(m.)

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how much was spent in the bread?

to calculate; to settle an account.

/
to square accounts with; to clear off all
the accounts or dues.
to ask for an explanation. Also .
to render accounts; to explain.

to be entered into the account book/ledger.

the account to tally; things to veer round.
to clear off the account.

properly, proportionately; considering all the pros and

cons.
(m.)
to take a share.

() to divide; to distribute.
to divide into parts.
(f.)

to stench.
(m.)

he who has a mind to beat his dog will

easily find a stick.
- shilly-shally, evasion; pretence.
- to dilly-dally; to feign, to pretend.

(m.)
- to freeze out; to boycott, to snub.
to render (menial) service to; to flatter.
(m.)
as you wish.
to give an order or sanction.

(f.)
to raise arguments or pretexts.

242

(m.)
to cause an uproar.
(m.)
to be agitated.

or to give a description of.

to knock into a cocked hat; to harass.
(m.)
/ to raise a tumult, to kick up a row.
(f.)
an angelic beauty.

(m.)
to cause an uproar.
(m.)

to make a home in; to win someones heart.

- (f.)

- to laugh quietly; to implore humbly.

(f.)

/ to show arrogance; to apply coercion.

to stop being conceited; to loseones wits.
(f.)

to humiliate, to insult.
to suffer humiliation.
(m.)

with what motive?

- (m.)

- to exchange.

- confusing language; equivocation.

to harass.

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(f.)

, in the capacity of.

(m.)

/ to be full of wrath.
the lips to tremble.

to show contempt (by moving ones lips).

to be dumbfounded.

- to move the lips; to start to speak.

(f.)

to enter into a competition, to have a race/rivalry.

to belong to somebody.

to follow/accompany somebody
probably, in all likelihood.
to be on the way.

to be finished.
(m.)

to do a good deed and earn a bad name.

to offer a sacrifice by lighting an oblation fire.
(m.)

he lost his senses.

to act with discretion.

get your head examined!

good sense.

to lose one's wits/senses, to become senseless.

to come to ones senses.

to bring round; to restore to consciousness.

to be lost (consciousness).

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to forewarn.

to be on ones guard (against, ); to keep watch.

to reach the age of discretion.
(m.)

to be greedy.

to suffer pangs of greed.

or to slip away inconspicuously.

(m.)

to takecourage.
to demoralise.

() to satisfy ones ambition or desire; to do

ones best.
to be dejected.
to summon up courage or energies.