A1 Idiom Neutral

دست روی دست گذاشتن

dast ruye dast gozashtan

To do nothing/be idle

Significado

To remain inactive or refrain from taking action.

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Contexto cultural

In Iranian households, if a guest tries to help with dishes and the host says 'No, please sit,' the guest might feel they are 'putting hand on hand' (being useless). They often insist on helping to avoid this feeling. Classical poets like Saadi use the concept of 'sitting idle' to warn against wasting one's life. The hand is seen as the tool of the soul; to keep it still is to stifle the soul. In Iranian offices, 'Dast ruy-e dast gozâshtan' is a serious accusation of negligence that can lead to losing one's job.

🎯

Use the Negative

It is most powerful as 'Dast ruy-e dast nagozâr!' to sound like a native motivator.

⚠️

Don't use for Romance

If you want to say 'holding hands' with a partner, never use this idiom. It sounds like you are both being lazy together.

Significado

To remain inactive or refrain from taking action.

🎯

Use the Negative

It is most powerful as 'Dast ruy-e dast nagozâr!' to sound like a native motivator.

⚠️

Don't use for Romance

If you want to say 'holding hands' with a partner, never use this idiom. It sounds like you are both being lazy together.

Ponte a prueba

Complete the sentence with the correct verb form.

چرا نشستی؟ دست روی دست _______! (Don't put!)

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: نگذار

The negative imperative of 'gozâshtan' is 'nagozâr' (informal) or 'nagozârid'.

In which situation is this idiom appropriate?

Your brother is watching TV while the house is messy and guests are coming in 10 minutes.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دست روی دست گذاشتن

He is being idle when action is required.

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?

Which one implies 'doing nothing'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: او دست روی دست گذاشت و فقط نگاه کرد.

The idiom implies inaction, so 'just watching' is the logical follow-up.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

سارا: وقت نداریم! علی: می‌دونم، نباید _________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دست روی دست بگذاریم

The context of 'no time' requires the idiom for 'not being idle'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

When to say it

💼

Work

  • Missed deadlines
  • Lazy coworkers
  • Slow progress
🏠

Home

  • Unfinished chores
  • Procrastinating kids

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Complete the sentence with the correct verb form. Fill Blank A1

چرا نشستی؟ دست روی دست _______! (Don't put!)

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: نگذار

The negative imperative of 'gozâshtan' is 'nagozâr' (informal) or 'nagozârid'.

In which situation is this idiom appropriate? situation_matching A2

Your brother is watching TV while the house is messy and guests are coming in 10 minutes.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دست روی دست گذاشتن

He is being idle when action is required.

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly? Choose A2

Which one implies 'doing nothing'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: او دست روی دست گذاشت و فقط نگاه کرد.

The idiom implies inaction, so 'just watching' is the logical follow-up.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

سارا: وقت نداریم! علی: می‌دونم، نباید _________.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: دست روی دست بگذاریم

The context of 'no time' requires the idiom for 'not being idle'.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

3 preguntas

It can be. If you say it to a superior, it's very rude. If you say it to a friend who is procrastinating, it's helpful advice.

Yes! 'Man dast ruy-e dast gozâshtam' (I did nothing/I wasted time) is a common way to admit a mistake.

The opposite is 'Dast be kâr shodan' (To get to work) or 'Astin bâlâ zadan' (To roll up sleeves).

Frases relacionadas

🔄

بیکار نشستن

synonym

To sit idle/jobless.

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وقت‌کشی کردن

similar

To kill time.

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آستین بالا زدن

contrast

To roll up one's sleeves.

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