IdiomDaily Life
Persian
Persianنوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب (Nushdaroo ba'd az marg-e Sohraab)
Meaning: A solution that arrives uselessly too late.
Literally: The remedy after Sohrab's death
Example: “عذرخواهی بعد از طلاق نوشدارو بعد از مرگ سهراب است.” — An apology after the divorce is a day late and a dollar short.
English equivalent: A day late and a dollar short
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 소 잃고 외양간 고친다 (So ilkko oeyanggan gochinda) Literally: Fix the barn after losing the cow
Polish: Musztarda po obiedzie Literally: Mustard after dinner
Czech: Přijít s křížkem po funuse Literally: To come with a little cross after the funeral
French: Arriver comme les carabiniers Literally: To arrive like the carabineers
English: a day late and a dollar short- English: shut the stable door after the horse has bolted
Origin: From Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (about 1010): the hero Rostam unknowingly wounds his own son Sohrab in single combat. He sends for the nushdāru, a healing elixir, from King Kay Kavus, who delays sending it, and it arrives only after Sohrab has died. The remedy after Sohrab's death is help that comes too late.
More Persian idioms
- آب از سرش گذشته (âb az sarash gozashte) It is already too late to save the situation.
- گربه را دم حجله کشتن (gorbe rā dam-e hejle koshtan) To assert authority firmly from the very start.
- 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.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Have not the cloak to make when it begins to rain. Preparation must precede need; waiting until weather turns cold leaves you exposed and un…
- Though the sun shines, leave not your cloak at home. Unexpectedly harsh conditions can arrive suddenly, so maintain preparedness despite prese…
- The clock goes as it pleases the clerk. A servant's negligence or self-interest determines whether essential tasks proceed reliab…
Keep exploring