IdiomThe Absurd
Hindi
Hindiनौ दो ग्यारह होना (nau do gyaarah hona)
Meaning: To flee or run away quickly.
Literally: To become nine, two, eleven
Example: “पुलिस को देखते ही चोर नौ दो ग्यारह हो गए।” — As soon as they saw the police, the thieves took to their heels.
English equivalent: To take to one's heels
Equivalents in other languages
French: Prendre ses jambes à son cou Literally: To take one's legs around one's neck
Russian: Делать ноги (Delat' nogi) Literally: To make legs
Ukrainian: Дати драла (Daty drala) Literally: To give a bolt
Italian: battere i tacchi Literally: To beat one's heels
English: beat a hasty retreat- French: Prendre la tangente Literally: To take the tangent
- English: take to one's heels
Origin: "To become nine and two make eleven": to run off quickly and disappear. Nine and two do make eleven, and the phrase may simply play on how fast the sum is done, but why these numbers mean fleeing is not documented.
More Hindi idioms
- अंगूर खट्टे हैं (Angoor khatte hain) To scorn what you secretly want but cannot have.
- आ बैल मुझे मार (Ā bail mujhe mār) To deliberately invite trouble upon yourself.
- नाक में दम करना (naak mein dam karna) To harass or pester relentlessly.
- नाक रगड़ना (nāk ragaṛnā) To grovel and beg humbly.
- आसमान सिर पर उठाना (aasmaan sir par uthaana) To raise a huge uproar.
- ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा (Ūṅṭ ke muṅh meṅ jīrā) A laughably tiny amount for something that needs much more.
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