I rri gjel dikujt
Meaning: To strut arrogantly before someone and refuse to back down or bow one's head to them.
Language: Albanian
Literally: He stands like a rooster to someone
Category: Animals
Origin: Recorded in the standard Albanian dictionary under gjel, "rooster," among a cluster of rooster idioms, and built on a sight familiar to anyone who has kept poultry: a rooster squaring up to a rival, chest thrown out, head high, refusing to give ground. To stand like a rooster to someone is to take that posture toward a person — puffed up, defiant, unwilling to lower one's head before them. The same dictionary entry records neighbors in the family, among them si gjeli pa kokë, "like a headless rooster," for someone dazed and disoriented.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: avoir une grosse tête — literally: to have a big head
- Estonian: Nina püsti käima — literally: To walk with your nose up
More idioms — Animals
- Iku me bishtin ndër shalë — To slink off defeated and ashamed.
- Avoir une araignée au plafond — To be a little crazy.
- Einen Kater haben — To have a hangover.
- Buscarle tres pies al gato — To overcomplicate things; to look for trouble.
- Non sapere che pesci pigliare — To be at a complete loss what to do.
- Acertar na mosca — To be exactly right; to hit the bullseye.
More Albanian idioms
- E ka gjuhën të gjatë — He gossips and speaks too freely.
From our compliments & insults
- Sei una persona d'oro — You're genuinely wonderful — kind, trustworthy, and precious to have in one's life.
- Che spettacolo! — You look absolutely stunning — a spontaneous burst of admiration for someone's appearance.
- Du bist ein Goldstück — You're a real gem — priceless, irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated.