Idioms, like the proverbs, have come from the past to the present. Turkish idioms are patterns which describe a situation or concept that is far from their true meaning, by addressing a situation in Turkish culture. In Turkish history, idioms have great importance. While some reflect the correct words to us, some conjoined phrases also have a very funny meaning. Let’s look at some together (with their verbatim translations).
- Cambul cambul: It means that meals are so watery.
- Çanak yalayıcı (Hanger-on, ass-licker): A person who tries to be friendly and spend time with rich and important people, especially to gain an advantage.
- Fincancı katırlarını ürkütmek (Stir up a hornet’s nest, scare the horses with fragile cups): A difficult or unpleasant situation for a person who shouldn’t be get angry.
- Icığını cıcığını çıkarmak (Search something with a fine-tooth comb): To examine an object or event blow-by-blow.
- Nato kafa nato mermer ( (as) thick as two short planks): A person who is very stupid.
Nato kafa nato mermer ( (as) thick as two short planks): A person who is very stupid.
- Palas pandıras (helter-skelter): moving quickly and in all directions.
- Tavşanın suyunun suyu (broth of rabbit’s rabbit): This means how far it is between 2 points.
- Uma uma döndük muma (transformed to be a candle by futile hopes): Get disappointed.
- Zemheri zürafası gibi… (like a giraffe in the winter): Used for people who wear thin clothes in the winter months.
- Ayar vermek (fine tuning): To create a bad situation for someone with bad words or bad actions.
Uma uma döndük muma (transformed to be a candle by futile hopes): Get disappointed.
- Gideri olmak (be bangable): Usually used for something or someone as it/her/she is okay, useful. It is also use for sexual meaning.
- Ağızla kuş tutmak (catching a bird with a mouth): When the acts of someone will not be tolerated even if he does the miracles.
- Balık kavağa çıkınca (when the fish climbs the tree): If you say that something will happen when hell freezes over, you mean that it will never happen (When hell freezes over).
- Dimyat’a pirince giderken eldeki bulgurdan olmak (run out of bulgur at home while trying to get the rice in Dimyat): Go farther and fare worse.
- Çarşamba pazarına dönmek (to be like the bazaar in Çarşamba): Messing something up like the crowds in bazaars. In neighborhood, the bazaar is open on some days for public, to buy household, fruits and vegetables.
Çarşamba pazarına dönmek (to be like the bazaar in Çarşamba): Messing something up like the crowds in bazaars. In neighborhood, the bazaar is open on some days for public, to buy household, fruits and vegetables.
- Dingonun ahırı (like a three-ring circus): In old times, there were horseback trams in İstanbul. A person, a.k.a Dingo, had owned a barn to house horses in Taksim. After a while, this place became where everyone stopped by (literally “barn of Dingo”).
- Kulağını tersten göstermek (Showing the ear from the opposite side): To take the farthest and most difficult way, even though someone can show you an easier way.
- Eşref saatinin gelmesi: In the past, people had waited more auspicious (“eşref”) day for wedding, travel, or war. It was thought that this time (“eşref saati”) came from the movements of stars and planets. In present times, it means that we must wait for the right time.
- Goygoyculuk yapmak: It is used in present discourse as twattle.
- İpsiz sapsız gezmek (To ramble without a rope): It is used for bums, or good-for-nothing people.
İpsiz sapsız gezmek: It is used for bums, or good-for-nothing people.
- Mersi, pabucumun tersi: Mersi is a French word and it means “Thank you.” “Tersi” rhymes with “Mersi,” then together it forms an ala-franga (European) word group.
- Püsküllü bela (a trouble with a tail): In old times, the fez was used with tassels or without tassels. Sometimes these tassels were difficult because of windy or rainy days. This idiom is used for a person who starts troubles and difficulties.
- Zılgıt yemek: Get a tongue-lashing.
- Üç buçuk atmak (to beat three and a half): Be scared out of one’s mind.
- Ense yapmak (lie on nape): Lie down on the job.
Ense yapmak: Lie down on the job (a popular among Turkish idioms).
- Yağlı müşteri (fatty whale): It means that the customer is rich.
- Çam devirmek (take down the tree): Put one’s foot in one’s mouth.
- Ne oldum delisi olmak (to be a mad of status): Start to think he’s/she’s something special, playing cool.
- Çizmeyi aşmak (pass over the boot): Go beyond the limit.
- Saman altından su yürütmek (flow the water under the haystack): Do something secretly.
