Signification
To live from hand to mouth, barely making ends meet.
Contexte culturel
Iranians often use this phrase to avoid 'Cheshm-zakhm' (the evil eye). By claiming they only 'make ends meet,' they avoid appearing too successful and attracting envy. In modern Tehran, this phrase is frequently used in political and social complaints regarding the 'Gherani' (high prices).
Use the Negative
If you want to sound more native when complaining about prices, use the negative: 'Dastam be dahanam nemirese'.
Pronoun Matching
Always match the 'am/at/ash' on BOTH hand and mouth. 'Dast-am be dahan-at' would mean your hand reaches someone else's mouth!
Signification
To live from hand to mouth, barely making ends meet.
Use the Negative
If you want to sound more native when complaining about prices, use the negative: 'Dastam be dahanam nemirese'.
Pronoun Matching
Always match the 'am/at/ash' on BOTH hand and mouth. 'Dast-am be dahan-at' would mean your hand reaches someone else's mouth!
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'residan'.
با این حقوق کم، دستم به دهانم نمی-_______.
The subject is 'Dast' (hand), which is third-person singular.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
When would you say 'Dastam be dahanam mi-rasad'?
The idiom describes subsistence living.
Choose the best response.
A: چرا خانه بزرگتر نمیخری؟ B: ________.
You can't buy a bigger house if you are barely making ends meet.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Financial Status in Persian
Poor
- • دست به دهان
- • فقیر
Rich
- • پولدار
- • ثروتمند
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesبا این حقوق کم، دستم به دهانم نمی-_______.
The subject is 'Dast' (hand), which is third-person singular.
When would you say 'Dastam be dahanam mi-rasad'?
The idiom describes subsistence living.
A: چرا خانه بزرگتر نمیخری؟ B: ________.
You can't buy a bigger house if you are barely making ends meet.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsNo, it is a very polite and standard way to discuss financial difficulty.
Usually, it's for individuals or families, not corporations.
The opposite is 'Servatmand' (wealthy) or 'Pool-dar'.
Expressions liées
هشتش گرو نه است
synonymTo be in deep financial trouble
صورت را با سیلی سرخ کردن
similarTo keep up appearances
پول پارو کردن
contrastTo shovel money (be very rich)
