Significado
To fish for information.
Contexto cultural
Subtlety (incelik) is a highly valued trait. Asking direct questions about money or personal life can be seen as 'kaba' (rude). 'Ağzını aramak' is the polite way to be curious. In the complex hierarchy of the Ottoman palace, 'searching the mouth' of rivals was a necessary political skill to avoid execution or exile. Turkish 'Dizis' (TV dramas) are full of characters 'searching each other's mouths'. It is a primary driver of plot tension. Most 'mouth searching' happens over tea. The relaxed atmosphere of a 'çay bahçesi' is the perfect setting for indirect questioning.
The 'Third Person' Trick
The best way to 'search a mouth' is to talk about a third person. If you want to know if X is angry, talk about how Y got angry yesterday and see X's reaction.
Don't be too obvious!
If you 'search the mouth' too aggressively, it becomes an interrogation, and the person will close up.
Significado
To fish for information.
The 'Third Person' Trick
The best way to 'search a mouth' is to talk about a third person. If you want to know if X is angry, talk about how Y got angry yesterday and see X's reaction.
Don't be too obvious!
If you 'search the mouth' too aggressively, it becomes an interrogation, and the person will close up.
Use with 'Bakalım'
Adding 'bakalım' (let's see) makes it sound more natural: 'Bir ağzını ara bakalım.'
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'ağzını aramak'.
Dün akşam Ali'nin ______ ______ ama bir şey söylemedi.
We need the first person singular past tense and the correct vowel elision.
Which situation is best for 'ağzını aramak'?
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
The idiom is for indirect information gathering.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Mehmet'in yeni işinden haberi var mı?' Fatma: 'Bilmiyorum, biraz ______ ______.'
Fatma suggests fishing for information from Mehmet.
🎉 Puntuación: /3
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
3 ejerciciosDün akşam Ali'nin ______ ______ ama bir şey söylemedi.
We need the first person singular past tense and the correct vowel elision.
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
The idiom is for indirect information gathering.
Ayşe: 'Mehmet'in yeni işinden haberi var mı?' Fatma: 'Bilmiyorum, biraz ______ ______.'
Fatma suggests fishing for information from Mehmet.
🎉 Puntuación: /3
Preguntas frecuentes
5 preguntasNo, it's not rude to use the phrase to describe the action, but the action itself can be seen as sneaky depending on your intent.
Yes, you can say 'Benim ağzımı arıyor' (He is fishing for info from me).
They are 99% the same. 'Yoklamak' is slightly more formal/business-like.
Rarely. It's better for dialogue or informal stories.
No, unless you are in a fairy tale where animals have secrets!
Frases relacionadas
Ağız yoklamak
synonymTo probe someone's thoughts.
Ağzından baklayı çıkarmak
contrastTo finally reveal a secret.
Laf almak
builds onTo get information out of someone.
Ağzı gevşek
similarSomeone who can't keep a secret.
