Hindi Idioms

A curated set of 10 idioms in Hindi — literal translations, real meanings, and where each one comes from.

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• ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा — A laughably tiny amount for something that needs much more. Literally: A cumin seed in a camel's mouth.
• बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद — An ignorant person can't appreciate something refined. Literally: What does a monkey know about the taste of ginger?.
• नाच न जाने आंगन टेढ़ा — A bad workman blames his tools. Literally: Can't dance, blames the courtyard for being crooked.
• दाल में कुछ काला है — Something suspicious is going on. Literally: There is something black in the lentils.
• नौ दो ग्यारह होना — To flee or run away quickly. Literally: To become nine, two, eleven.
• अंगूर खट्टे हैं — To scorn what you secretly want but cannot have. Literally: The grapes are sour.
• आ बैल मुझे मार — To deliberately invite trouble upon yourself. Literally: Come ox, hit me.
• नाक में दम करना — To harass or pester relentlessly. Literally: To put breath into someone's nose.
• नाक रगड़ना — To grovel and beg humbly. Literally: To rub your nose on the ground.
• आसमान सिर पर उठाना — To raise a huge uproar. Literally: To lift the sky onto your head.

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