IdiomDaily LifeTurkish

Pabuç pahalı

Meaning: Things are getting dangerous; time to be careful.

Literally: The shoe is expensive

Example: “Patron çok kızgın, pabuç pahalı; bugün izin isteme.” — The boss is furious; you're skating on thin ice, so don't ask for time off today.

English equivalent: To skate on thin ice

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Origin: "The shoe is expensive": a warning that things are getting dangerous and it is time to leave. The usual explanation is a fleeing person who would not stop to collect shoes left at a door, since staying would cost more than the shoes; this is not documented, and the phrase is linked by some to pabucu dama atılmak.

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