Significado
To stop yourself from speaking.
Contexto cultural
At a traditional feast, the Tamada (toastmaster) is the only one who should speak at length. Guests must 'bite their tongues' and wait for the Tamada to grant them permission to make a 'alaverdi' (response toast). In the high mountains of Georgia, silence is a sign of masculinity and strength. A man who cannot 'bite his tongue' is seen as weak or 'enatartala' (talkative/gossipy). In modern Tbilisi, the idiom is often used ironically among friends when someone is about to say something 'cringe' or socially awkward. Respect for parents and grandparents is paramount. Even if a young person disagrees, they are expected to 'bite their tongue' to maintain family 'mshvidoba' (peace).
Use it for Secrets
This is the most natural way to tell a friend you won't tell their secret: 'ენაზე კბილს დავიჭერ!'
Don't use it for pain
If you actually bite your tongue while eating, say 'ენა ვიკბინე' (I bit my tongue).
Significado
To stop yourself from speaking.
Use it for Secrets
This is the most natural way to tell a friend you won't tell their secret: 'ენაზე კბილს დავიჭერ!'
Don't use it for pain
If you actually bite your tongue while eating, say 'ენა ვიკბინე' (I bit my tongue).
Conjugation Trick
Remember that 'კბილის' (genitive) changes to 'კბილს' (dative) when you use it in a sentence with a verb.
Respect Elders
In Georgia, 'biting your tongue' when an elder speaks is considered a high virtue, not a sign of weakness.
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing word in the correct case.
საიდუმლო რომ არ მეთქვა, ენაზე ______ დავიჭირე.
In the past tense (Aorist), the object 'tooth' takes the nominative/accusative form 'კბილი'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
როდის უნდა დაიჭირო ენაზე კბილი?
The idiom is about self-restraint during conflict.
Match the Georgian phrase to its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Matching the idiom and its components.
Complete the dialogue.
ნიკა: 'არ თქვა, რომ გუშინ კინოში ვიყავით!' ლელა: 'კარგი, ______.'
Lela is promising to keep the secret using the future tense of the idiom.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
When to Bite Your Tongue
Social
- • Secrets
- • Surprises
- • Gossip
Conflict
- • Arguments
- • Insults
- • Anger
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosსაიდუმლო რომ არ მეთქვა, ენაზე ______ დავიჭირე.
In the past tense (Aorist), the object 'tooth' takes the nominative/accusative form 'კბილი'.
როდის უნდა დაიჭირო ენაზე კბილი?
The idiom is about self-restraint during conflict.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Matching the idiom and its components.
ნიკა: 'არ თქვა, რომ გუშინ კინოში ვიყავით!' ლელა: 'კარგი, ______.'
Lela is promising to keep the secret using the future tense of the idiom.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it is neutral. However, telling someone else to do it ('ენაზე კბილი დაიჭირე!') can be perceived as a bit firm or bossy depending on your tone.
Yes, it's a great way to describe how you handle conflict professionally: 'კონფლიქტის დროს ენაზე კბილის დაჭერა შემიძლია.'
'გაჩუმდი' just means 'be quiet.' 'ენაზე კბილის დაჭერა' implies you have something to say but are choosing not to.
No, it also applies to anger, spoilers, or avoiding saying something rude.
Yes, 'ენა ჩაიგდე' is the slang/rude version.
Yes, it's very common in literature and journalism.
Use 'ენა ვიკბინე.'
Yes, similar metaphors exist in Armenian and Azerbaijani.
No, that makes no sense in Georgian.
The future ('დავიჭერ') for promises and the aorist ('დავიჭირე') for past actions.
Frases relacionadas
ენის მიტანა
contrastTo snitch or carry gossip
ენა დამოკლებული
similarTo have a shortened tongue (to be silenced)
ენას კბილი დააჭირე
specialized formPress your tooth to your tongue
ენამ უყივლა
contrastThe tongue crowed (to blurt out)
