Signification
Someone who watches but does nothing.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is used across both West Bengal and Bangladesh, showing how religious stories permeate secular language regardless of the speaker's faith. The actual 'Sakshi Gopal' temple is in Odisha. For people in this region, the phrase has a much stronger religious and geographical connection. In the Vaishnava tradition, Gopal is the child form of Krishna. The story emphasizes that God will even become a 'witness' for his true devotees. In modern offices, this phrase is a common way to describe 'silent' board members or managers who don't intervene in employee grievances.
Use it for Sarcasm
It's a great way to playfully tease a friend who is just watching you cook or clean.
Not for Court
Never use this in a legal setting to describe a real witness; it implies they are useless.
Signification
Someone who watches but does nothing.
Use it for Sarcasm
It's a great way to playfully tease a friend who is just watching you cook or clean.
Not for Court
Never use this in a legal setting to describe a real witness; it implies they are useless.
Religious Sensitivity
While common, remember it comes from a deity's name. Use it respectfully in very religious circles.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
সবাই যখন ঝগড়া করছিল, রহিম তখন ______ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল।
The context of 'standing there while others fight' perfectly fits the idiom 'Sakshi Gopal'.
Which situation best describes 'Sakshi Gopal'?
Which of these is a 'Sakshi Gopal'?
A Sakshi Gopal is someone who witnesses an event but takes no action.
Complete the dialogue.
মা: 'রান্নাঘরে এত কাজ, আর তুই ফোন নিয়ে বসে আছিস?' ছেলে: 'আমি তো জাস্ট দেখছি তুমি কী করছ।' মা: 'বেশি ______ হোস না, জলটা নিয়ে আয়!'
The mother is criticizing the son for just 'watching' instead of helping.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Match 'সাক্ষী গোপাল' with its best definition.
The idiom refers to someone who is present but does nothing.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesসবাই যখন ঝগড়া করছিল, রহিম তখন ______ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল।
The context of 'standing there while others fight' perfectly fits the idiom 'Sakshi Gopal'.
Which of these is a 'Sakshi Gopal'?
A Sakshi Gopal is someone who witnesses an event but takes no action.
মা: 'রান্নাঘরে এত কাজ, আর তুই ফোন নিয়ে বসে আছিস?' ছেলে: 'আমি তো জাস্ট দেখছি তুমি কী করছ।' মা: 'বেশি ______ হোস না, জলটা নিয়ে আয়!'
The mother is criticizing the son for just 'watching' instead of helping.
Match 'সাক্ষী গোপাল' with its best definition.
The idiom refers to someone who is present but does nothing.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt's a mild criticism. It's not a swear word, but it's definitely not a compliment. It means you are being useless in a situation.
Yes! Even though 'Gopal' is a male name, the idiom is gender-neutral when used for a person.
Absolutely. It's a standard part of the Bengali language used by people of all religions in Bangladesh.
Sakshi Gopal implies you are *watching* but not acting. Thuto Jagannath implies you *have no power* to act even if you wanted to.
Yes, especially when criticizing a government or an organization for their inaction.
The origin does, but in 99% of daily conversations, people aren't thinking about the god; they are thinking about a passive person.
You say: 'আমি সাক্ষী গোপাল নই' (Ami Sakshi Gopal noi).
No, the two words always go together.
Yes, if a child is just staring at a mess instead of helping to clean it.
Very common in political editorials to describe a weak leader.
Expressions liées
ঠুঁটো জগন্নাথ
synonymA handless Jagannath; a person with no power to act.
নিষ্ক্রিয় দর্শক
similarPassive spectator.
কুম্ভকর্ণের ঘুম
contrastDeep sleep of Kumbhakarna; total unawareness.
অগস্ত্য যাত্রা
builds onA journey from which one never returns.
