IdiomDaily Life
Indonesian
IndonesianBesar pasak daripada tiang
Meaning: To spend more than you earn.
Literally: The peg is bigger than the post
Example: “Gajinya kecil tapi belanjanya besar; besar pasak daripada tiang.” — His salary is small but he spends big; he's living beyond his means.
English equivalent: To live beyond one's means
Origin: In a traditional wooden house, pegs (pasak) fasten the posts (tiang), and a peg bigger than its post would split it. The Indonesian peribahasa means spending more than one earns.
Equivalents in other languages
English: live beyond one's means
More Indonesian idioms
- Sambil menyelam minum air To accomplish two things in one go.
- Air tenang menghanyutkan Quiet people can run surprisingly deep.
- Tong kosong nyaring bunyinya Those who know the least often talk the most.
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- In vain he craves advice who will not follow it. Asking for advice is pointless if you never intend to heed it.
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- He that's afraid of wounds must not come nigh a battle. If you fear getting hurt, stay out of the fight — risk is action's price.
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