ضرب المثل‌ها (Proverbs)
آس رو کردن
Always put your best foot forward.
Try as hard as you can or give your best.
Example: You need to put your best foot forward in the interview if you want to land that job.
بد از بدتر بهتره
Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.
An incapable person can gain powerful position if others in the fray are even more incapable.
Example: Despite his obvious lack of exposure and skills, he became head of the department because he is one-eyed among the blind.
دوری دوستی میاره
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
When people we love are not with us, we love them even more.
Example: When I was with her she always fought with me but now she cries for me on phone. I think that distance made her heart grow fonder.
به هر چیزی متوصل شدن
A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
When someone is in a difficult situation, s/he will take any available opportunity to improve it.
Example: After trying all reliable medicines, he is now visiting quacks to get a cure for his baldness. A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
سرکه نقد به از حلوای نسیه
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Things we already have are more valuable than what we hope to get.
Example: The question now is will Carmichael live to regret turning down such a lucrative offer? A bird in the hand…
مثل گربه هفت تا جون داره
A cat has nine lives.
Cat can survive seemingly fatal events.
Example: I haven’t seen him for several weeks, but I wouldn’t really worry about him. Everyone knows a cat has nine lives.
به عمل کاربرآید به سخندانی نیست
Actions speak louder than words.
Actions are a better reflection of one’s character because it’s easy to say things, but difficult to act on them and follow through.
Example: Julie always says she’ll donate to the school, and she never does, so I doubt she will this year. Actions speak louder than words, after all.
عروس نمیتونه برقصه می‌گه زمین کجه!
A bad workman always blames his tools.
This proverb is used someone blames the quality of their equipment or other external factors when they perform a task poorly.
Example: X: The turkey isn’t cooked well because the oven is not functioning well. Y: Well, it’s the case of a bad workman blaming his tools.
تو سختی عدالت فراموش می‌شه
All’s fair in love and war.
One can break the rules of fair play under extenuating circumstances.
Example: X: How can you pitch my idea to the boss to look good? Y: Come on, all is fair in love and war.
هر درخشنده‌ای طلا نیست، هر گردی گردو نیست
All that glitters is not gold.
Things that look good outwardly may not be as valuable or good.
Example: X: I want to be a movie star when I grow up. Y: Film industry looks good from the distance, but it has its own problems. Remember, all that glitters is not gold.
آخر خنده نکبت داره
All good things come to an end.
Good experiences eventually come to an end.
Example: I was so sad to graduate from college and leave all of my friends, but I’ve to realize that all good things come to an end.
ذهن بیکار، ذهن بیمار
An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
If you’ve nothing to do, you’ll likely think of mischief.
Example: The kids should be kept busy during the summer break. Otherwise, you know an idle brain is devil’s workshop.
آدم احمق مال به باد میده
A fool and his money are soon parted.
Foolish people do not know how to hold on to their money.
Example: She gave up her entire estate on the basis of a verbal promise. A fool and his money are indeed easily parted.
روزی یه سیب بخور دکتر نرو
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Eating an apple a day will keep you healthy.
Example: Switch from chips to apples for your snack. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
راه‌های رسیدن به خدا بسیار است
All roads lead to Rome.
There are many different routes to the same goal.
Example: Mary was criticizing the way Jane was planting the flowers. John said, “Never mind, Mary, all roads lead to Rome.” Some people learn by doing. Others have to be taught. In the long run, all roads lead to Rome.
با وجود موانع از پس چیزی برآمدن
All’s well that ends well.
As long as the outcome is good, problems on the way don’t matter.
Example: I’m glad you finally got here, even though your car had a flat tire on the way. Oh well, all’s well that ends well.
پله پله تا ملاقات خدا، گاماس گاماس
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Howsoever big a task is, it starts with a small step.
Example: I’m feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of completing my 4,000-word paper by next week, but I guess I’ll start by writing 500 words every day. After all, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
به قدرت ننازیدن چون همه چی به مو بنده
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
One weak part will render the whole weak.
Example: No matter how confident the team is, it is as strong as its weakest link – its defense.
چشم در مقابل چشم، جواب های هوی است
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
If someone does something wrong, then they should be punished by same degree of injury or punishment.
Example: I won’t be satisfied with such paltry punishment to the wrongdoers. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth; this I demand from all who have wronged me.
چون عقل زیاد شود کلام اندک شود (امام علی علیه السلام)
An empty vessel makes much noise.
Foolish or stupid people are the most talkative.
Example: The spokesperson of the ruling political party yesterday was shouting at the top of his voice on a TV debate, trying to defend the indefensible. Empty vessel makes much noise.
اصطلاح‌ها (Idioms)
دل باختن
Head over heels
If you’re head over heels, you’re completely in love.
Example: Max fell head over heels in love with her colleague and wants to marry her.
عصبانی شدن
Up in arms
Angry about something
Example: Media has traditionally been up in arms with the government of the day.
سنگ انداختن
Upset someone’s applecart
If you upset someone’s applecart, you do something that causes a plan to go wrong.
Example: The increase in customs duty by the government has upset the applecart of those car companies who were importing most of their car parts.
چک و چونه زدن
Drive a hard bargain
If you drive a hard bargain, you argue hard to get a favorable deal.
Example: The author tried to drive a hard bargain with the publisher on signing amount, but couldn’t because he didn’t have best sellers in his name.
تو مخمصه افتادن
Back against the wall
Be in a difficult situation from where escape is difficult
Example: With banks baying for his blood over default in payments, he has his back against the wall.
به درد سر انداختن
Stir up a hornets’ nest
Provoke trouble
Example: It’s not that the management is not aware of few false bills here and there, but they don’t call it because it would expose many and stir up a hornet’s nest.
سر قبر اشتباه گریه کردن
Barking up the wrong tree
To ask the wrong person or follow the wrong course
Example: The sales team blamed the engineers for the organization’s failure to bag the mega deal, but they were barking up the wrong tree.
بیشتر از گلیم پا رو دراز کردن
Bite off more than you can chew
To try to do something that is too difficult for you.
Example: He has taken more responsibilities as he couldn’t say ‘no’ to his boss. I think he has bitten more than he can chew, and he’ll struggle to handle them all.
دوری و دوستی کردن با کسی
Keep someone at arm’s length
If you keep someone at arm’s length, you avoid becoming friendly with them.
Example: I’ve more productive time in the day because I’ve developed this good habit of keeping video games at arm’s length.
نقشه کسی رو نقش بر آب کردن
Spoil someone’s plans
To ruin someone’s plans
Example: The heavy overnight rain spoilt our plan to play cricket next morning.
نوآوری کردن
Break fresh / new ground
If you break new ground, you do something that was not done before.
Example: Our scientists are breaking new ground in robotics and cancer research.
صد سال یه بار
Once in a blue moon
If something happens once in a blue moon, it happens rarely.
Example: Many startups turn in a profit once in a blue moon.
دندون رو جیگر گذاشتن
Scrape the barrel
When you’re scraping the barrel, you’re using something you do not want to but you’ve no option.
Example: I was scraping the barrel when I had to stay for six months with my parents after I lost my job.
بچه همون مامانه / باباس
A chip off the old block
If you’re a chip off the old block, you’re similar in some distinct way to your father or mother.
Example: He is as stingy as her mother – a real chip off the old block.
زیادی به کسی سرویس دادن
Bend over backwards
To try to please or accommodate someone to an unusual degree
Example: The hotel staff bent over backwards to make the visit of the dignitaries a memorable one.
نفس کسی از چیزی بند اومدن
Take away your breath
If someone or something takes your breath away, it astonishes you.
Example: His diving catch at the crunch moment in the match took my breath away.
تعریف از خود کردن، قپی اومدن
Blow your own trumpet
If you blow your own trumpet, you tell people how good or successful you are (used in negative way).
Example: That doctor can be so off-putting. He is always blowing his trumpet mentioning his awards and positions in various associations.
تعارف رو کنار گذاشتن و رک بودن
Make no bones about something
If you make no bones about something, you say clearly what you feel or think about it.
Example: Jack made no bones about getting a hike in his salary.
دو چیز کاملاً متضاد رو یکجا بیان کردن
In the same breath
When you say two things in the same breath, you say two very different or contradictory things.
Example: How can the manager praise my colleague and talk of his average performance in the same breath?
آب رفته دیگه بر نمیگرده، کپن سوزوندن
Burn your boats/ bridges
If you burn your boats, you do something that makes it impossible to change your plans and go back to the earlier position or situation.
Example: I’ve burnt my boats with my previous supervisor by criticizing him publicly.