Hindi Idioms
A curated set of 10 idioms in Hindi — literal translations, real meanings, and where each one comes from.
- ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा (Ūṅṭ ke muṅh meṅ jīrā) — 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 (bandar kya jaane adrak ka svaad) — An ignorant person can't appreciate something refined. Literally: What does a monkey know about the taste of ginger?.
- नाच न जाने आंगन टेढ़ा (naach na jaane aangan tedha) — A bad workman blames his tools. Literally: Can't dance, blames the courtyard for being crooked.
- दाल में कुछ काला है (daal mein kuchh kaalaa hai) — Something suspicious is going on. Literally: There is something black in the lentils.
- नौ दो ग्यारह होना (nau do gyaarah hona) — To flee or run away quickly. Literally: To become nine, two, eleven.
- अंगूर खट्टे हैं (Angoor khatte hain) — To scorn what you secretly want but cannot have. Literally: The grapes are sour.
- आ बैल मुझे मार (Ā bail mujhe mār) — To deliberately invite trouble upon yourself. Literally: Come ox, hit me.
- नाक में दम करना (naak mein dam karna) — To harass or pester relentlessly. Literally: To put breath into someone's nose.
- नाक रगड़ना (nāk ragaṛnā) — To grovel and beg humbly. Literally: To rub your nose on the ground.
- आसमान सिर पर उठाना (aasmaan sir par uthaana) — To raise a huge uproar. Literally: To lift the sky onto your head.
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