A1 Idiom غیر رسمی

Turēt īkšķus

To hold thumbs

معنی

To wish someone good luck.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

Latvians often tuck their thumbs inside their fists when they say this. It's a physical manifestation of the idiom. In Estonia and Lithuania, similar thumb-based idioms exist, showing a regional linguistic bond that excludes the finger-crossing of the West. Some Latvians believe you shouldn't tell someone 'Good luck' directly because it might attract bad spirits; 'turēt īkšķus' is a safer, indirect way to wish success. On Latvian social media, the 'thumbs up' emoji is often interpreted as 'holding thumbs' rather than just 'OK' or 'Like' in high-stress contexts.

💡

Use the Future Tense

Most often, you'll say 'Es turēšu īkšķus' because you are promising to wish luck for an upcoming event.

⚠️

Avoid 'Krustot'

Never say 'krustot pirkstus' unless you are literally talking about crossing fingers for a different reason.

معنی

To wish someone good luck.

💡

Use the Future Tense

Most often, you'll say 'Es turēšu īkšķus' because you are promising to wish luck for an upcoming event.

⚠️

Avoid 'Krustot'

Never say 'krustot pirkstus' unless you are literally talking about crossing fingers for a different reason.

💬

The Gesture

If you want to look like a local, actually tuck your thumb into your fist while saying the phrase.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'turēt' in the future tense.

Es rīt ______ īkšķus par tavu interviju.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: turēšu

Since the event is tomorrow (rīt), the future tense 'turēšu' is required.

Which preposition is used with 'turēt īkšķus'?

Mēs turam īkšķus ___ tevi.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: par

The idiom 'turēt īkšķus' always takes the preposition 'par' to indicate the person being supported.

Match the Latvian phrase with its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: all

These are the standard translations for these related luck-based idioms.

Complete the dialogue.

Anna: 'Man šodien ir svarīga prezentācija.' Juris: '_________________'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Turu īkšķus!

'Turu īkšķus!' is the most appropriate response to someone facing a stressful event.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'turēt' in the future tense. جای خالی A1

Es rīt ______ īkšķus par tavu interviju.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: turēšu

Since the event is tomorrow (rīt), the future tense 'turēšu' is required.

Which preposition is used with 'turēt īkšķus'? Choose A1

Mēs turam īkšķus ___ tevi.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: par

The idiom 'turēt īkšķus' always takes the preposition 'par' to indicate the person being supported.

Match the Latvian phrase with its English meaning. Match A2

هر مورد سمت چپ را با جفتش در سمت راست مطابقت دهید:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: all

These are the standard translations for these related luck-based idioms.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A1

Anna: 'Man šodien ir svarīga prezentācija.' Juris: '_________________'

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Turu īkšķus!

'Turu īkšķus!' is the most appropriate response to someone facing a stressful event.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

Usually, you ask others to hold thumbs for you ('Turiet īkšķus!'). You don't typically say 'I am holding thumbs for myself.'

Yes, in informal or semi-formal emails to colleagues, it's a very nice touch.

The nominative plural is 'īkšķi,' but in this idiom, we use the accusative 'īkšķus.'

The phrase is plural, but the gesture can be one or both hands. The sentiment remains the same.

Not at all! It is used daily by all generations in Latvia.

No, that sounds strange. It must be 'īkšķus' (thumbs).

You can just say 'Es vēlu veiksmi!' (I wish luck!), which is the non-idiomatic version.

'Spiest' (to squeeze) is more intense, but 'turēt' is much more common.

Yes, it's the most common way to say you're rooting for a team.

Not really. A wedding isn't a 'test' of luck. Use 'Apsveicu!' (Congratulations!) instead.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

Turēt dūres

similar

To hold fists (to root for someone)

🔗

Ne spalvas!

similar

Not a feather! (Break a leg!)

🔄

Vēlēt veiksmi

synonym

To wish luck

🔗

Piesist pie koka

related

To knock on wood

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