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گربه را دم حجله کشتن (gorbe rā dam-e hejle koshtan)

Meaning: To assert authority firmly from the very start.

Language: Persian

Literally: To kill the cat at the wedding-chamber door

Category: Animals

Origin: A Persian tale of a groom who makes an example on the wedding night to set the tone for the marriage.

More idioms — Animals

  • จับปลาสองมือ — To chase two goals at once and risk losing both.
  • Cõng rắn cắn gà nhà — To bring in an outsider who harms your own people.
  • Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou — A sunshower — rain while the sun shines.
  • Koeitjies en kalfies — Idle small talk.
  • Bobbejaan agter die bult — To worry about troubles that may never come.
  • Мува без главе (Muva bez glave) — To rush about chaotically and without direction.

More Persian idioms

  • مرغ همسایه غاز است (morgh-e hamsāye ghāz ast) — The grass is always greener next door.
  • از این ستون به آن ستون فرج است (az in sotun be ān sotun faraj ast) — Even a small change may bring hope.
  • قربونت برم (ghorbunet beram) — An affectionate thank-you or term of endearment — 'you're so dear to me'.
  • زیر آب کسی را زدن (Zir-e āb-e kasi rā zadan) — To secretly sabotage or betray someone behind their back.
  • نمک‌گیر شدن (namakgir shodan) — To feel bound by gratitude after sharing someone's food or hospitality.
  • خر بیار و باقالی بار کن (khar biyār o bāqālī bār kon) — Utter chaos; an endless, overwhelming mess.

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