پای کسی را از گلیمش درازتر کردن
pa-ye kasi ra az gelimash deraztar kardan
To live beyond one's means
Signification
To spend more money than one earns; to be extravagant.
Contexte culturel
The 'Gelim' was the most portable and essential item for nomads. It defined their living space in a tent. Stretching beyond it meant being outside the protection of the home. In modern Tehran, this phrase is often used to criticize 'new money' (nouveaux riches) who act as if they own the city. Classical poets like Saadi often wrote about 'Qana'at' (contentment). This idiom is the folk-version of that high-literary philosophy. Iran has a high power-distance culture. Respecting hierarchy is crucial, and this idiom is the primary tool for enforcing that hierarchy.
Use the Suffixes!
The idiom sounds much more natural when you use the possessive suffixes (am, at, ash) rather than saying 'Pā-ye man' or 'Pā-ye to'.
It's a bit sharp
Be careful using this directly to someone's face. It's quite a strong way to tell someone they are being arrogant.
Signification
To spend more money than one earns; to be extravagant.
Use the Suffixes!
The idiom sounds much more natural when you use the possessive suffixes (am, at, ash) rather than saying 'Pā-ye man' or 'Pā-ye to'.
It's a bit sharp
Be careful using this directly to someone's face. It's quite a strong way to tell someone they are being arrogant.
The 'Advice' version is safer
If you want to be helpful, use 'Pāyat rā be andāze-ye gelimat derāz kon' (Stretch your feet to the size of your rug). It sounds like wise advice rather than an insult.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blanks with the correct possessive suffixes.
او پایش را از گلیم___ درازتر کرد و حالا پشیمان است.
The subject is 'او' (He/She), so the possessive suffix must be 'ـش' (his/her).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'پایش را از گلیمش درازتر کردن'?
کدام موقعیت مناسب این اصطلاح است؟
The idiom refers to living beyond one's means or overstepping boundaries.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent.
عبارات را به هم وصل کنید.
These are the standard translations for these related concepts.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
مادر: 'پسرم، تو نباید به رئیس شرکت بگویی چکار کند.' پسر: 'چرا؟' مادر: 'چون با این کار داری ...'
The mother is warning the son about overstepping his authority at work.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesاو پایش را از گلیم___ درازتر کرد و حالا پشیمان است.
The subject is 'او' (He/She), so the possessive suffix must be 'ـش' (his/her).
کدام موقعیت مناسب این اصطلاح است؟
The idiom refers to living beyond one's means or overstepping boundaries.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the standard translations for these related concepts.
مادر: 'پسرم، تو نباید به رئیس شرکت بگویی چکار کند.' پسر: 'چرا؟' مادر: 'چون با این کار داری ...'
The mother is warning the son about overstepping his authority at work.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it's very common among all ages, though young people might use it more ironically or in social media contexts.
Yes, you can say 'I overstepped my bounds' (Pāyam rā az gelimam derāztar kardam) as a way of admitting a mistake.
It's a flat-woven rug, usually made of wool, without the 'pile' or 'fluff' of a standard carpet. It's a symbol of simplicity.
It's neutral. You can find it in newspapers, but you'll also hear it in a street argument.
No, it more often refers to social behavior and authority in modern Persian.
The opposite would be 'Hadd-e khod rā dānestan' (Knowing one's limit).
Only if you are very close to the person or if you are making a very strong, formal complaint. Otherwise, it's too aggressive.
Because you are stretching your feet *further* than the rug's edge. The comparison is key.
No, but there is 'Dast-derāzi kardan' which means to reach out and take something that isn't yours (often used for theft or harassment).
Yes, it's very common in political news to say a country has 'stretched its feet beyond its gelim' by interfering in another country.
Expressions liées
پایت را به اندازه گلیمت دراز کن
similarStretch your feet to the size of your rug.
لقمه بزرگتر از دهان برداشتن
synonymTo take a bite bigger than one's mouth.
حد خود را دانستن
contrastTo know one's limit.
فضولی کردن
specialized formTo be nosy/interfere.
