Air tenang menghanyutkan

Meaning: Quiet people can run surprisingly deep.

Literally: Still water sweeps you away

Example: “Dia pendiam, tapi nilainya selalu terbaik; air tenang menghanyutkan.” — She's quiet, but her grades are always the best; still waters run deep.

English equivalent: Still waters run deep

Origin: A calm river can hide a strong current that sweeps away whoever goes in. The Indonesian peribahasa warns that quiet people can be more capable or dangerous than they seem, like English "still waters run deep."

More Indonesian idioms

Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya Those who know the least often talk the most.
Besar pasak daripada tiang To spend more than you earn.
Sambil menyelam minum air To accomplish two things in one go.

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