المعنى
To deceive or swindle someone using cunning methods.
خلفية ثقافية
In the traditional bazaar, bargaining (chaneh-zani) is expected. If you don't bargain and pay the first price asked, locals might jokingly say you 'let them put a hat on you.' It's seen as a lack of 'market-smartness.' Sometimes, extreme Ta'arof (Persian etiquette) can be used as a 'hat' to hide a bad deal. A seller might say 'Ghabeli nadare' (It's worthless/free) while actually intending to overcharge you. Distinguishing between genuine politeness and 'kolah gozashtan' is a key skill for living in Iran. With the rise of 'Divar' (the Iranian Craigslist), the phrase is now used daily to warn against fake listings. It has moved from the physical bazaar to the digital screen. During the Pahlavi era, the 'Pahlavi Hat' was mandatory. Changing or losing one's hat was a major political and social statement. This historical weight adds to why 'putting a hat' on someone is such a powerful metaphor for changing their reality or status.
Use the Passive
If you are the victim, say 'Kolah saram raft.' It sounds more natural and less like you are accusing yourself of being stupid.
Don't use with 'be'
Never say 'Kolah be saram gozasht.' It's a common mistake for English speakers.
المعنى
To deceive or swindle someone using cunning methods.
Use the Passive
If you are the victim, say 'Kolah saram raft.' It sounds more natural and less like you are accusing yourself of being stupid.
Don't use with 'be'
Never say 'Kolah be saram gozasht.' It's a common mistake for English speakers.
Bazaar Context
If a seller is being too nice, keep this phrase in mind. It's a mental shield!
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
دیروز یک نفر در بازار ________ من کلاه ________. (Yesterday someone in the bazaar tricked me.)
The standard form is 'sar-e [person] kolah gozashtan'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
In which case would you say 'Kolah saram raft'?
This is a classic example of being swindled or tricked in a deal.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
A: این گوشی رو فقط ۱۰۰ دلار خریدم! B: ۱۰۰ دلار؟ ولی قیمتش ۵۰ دلاره! ________.
The seller (he) has tricked you (the buyer).
Match the Persian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all accurate translations of the related terms.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تماريندیروز یک نفر در بازار ________ من کلاه ________. (Yesterday someone in the bazaar tricked me.)
The standard form is 'sar-e [person] kolah gozashtan'.
In which case would you say 'Kolah saram raft'?
This is a classic example of being swindled or tricked in a deal.
A: این گوشی رو فقط ۱۰۰ دلار خریدم! B: ۱۰۰ دلار؟ ولی قیمتش ۵۰ دلاره! ________.
The seller (he) has tricked you (the buyer).
طابق كل عنصر على اليسار مع زوجه على اليمين:
These are all accurate translations of the related terms.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, it's not rude, but it is an accusation. Use it with friends or when complaining about a third party, but be careful using it directly to someone's face unless you want a confrontation.
Yes! If a friend tells you a small lie as a joke, you can say 'Saram kolah gozashti!' with a smile.
'Gool zadan' is general (to fool). 'Kolah gozashtan' usually implies a more elaborate scam or a financial loss.
You would say: 'مورد کلاهبرداری قرار گرفتم' (mored-e kolah-bardari gharar gereftam).
90% of the time, yes. But it can also be used for emotional or social deception.
The 'hat' (kolah) stays singular even if many people are tricked: 'Sar-e hameh kolah gozashtan'.
Only if you are talking about a past experience where you learned to be careful. Don't use it to describe your own tactics!
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'Sadegh boodan' (being honest) is the conceptual opposite.
Yes, it is common in Afghanistan (Dari) and Tajikistan as well, though with slight accent variations.
Yes, kids use it when playing games if someone cheats.
عبارات ذات صلة
کلاهبرداری
specialized formFraud/Scamming
سر کسی را شیره مالیدن
synonymTo sweet-talk someone into a trap
گول زدن
similarTo deceive/fool
جیب کسی را زدن
similarTo pickpocket
کلاه به کلاه کردن
builds onTo rob Peter to pay Paul
