मुँह में दही जमना
munh mein dahi jamna
Curd sets in mouth
Littéralement: Curd (dahi) has set (jamna) in the mouth (muh mein).
Use this to playfully challenge someone who is being unusually quiet or refusing to answer a question.
En 15 secondes
- Used to ask why someone is suddenly silent or speechless.
- Equivalent to the English 'Cat got your tongue?'
- Best for informal teasing among friends and family.
Signification
It is a playful way to ask someone why they are suddenly silent or unable to speak. It’s like asking, 'Has the cat got your tongue?'
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Teasing a friend who won't reveal a secret
Batao na kya hua, muh mein dahi jama hai kya?
Tell me what happened, has curd set in your mouth?
A mother questioning a child who broke a vase
Ab bolte kyun nahi? Muh mein dahi jam gaya hai?
Why aren't you speaking now? Has curd set in your mouth?
In a meeting where no one is volunteering ideas
Sabke muh mein dahi kyun jama hai? Kuch toh bolo!
Why has curd set in everyone's mouth? Say something!
Contexte culturel
Curd is a symbol of patience and stillness in Indian kitchens. This idiom likely emerged from the observation that once curd sets, it doesn't move or flow. It became popular in North Indian folk speech to mock people who lose their nerve during an argument.
The Tone Matters
Always say this with a smile! If said with a flat face, it can sound like a genuine insult rather than a joke.
Avoid with Elders
In Indian culture, questioning an elder's silence this way can be seen as 'badtameezi' (disrespect).
En 15 secondes
- Used to ask why someone is suddenly silent or speechless.
- Equivalent to the English 'Cat got your tongue?'
- Best for informal teasing among friends and family.
What It Means
This phrase describes a state of sudden, awkward silence. Imagine someone who usually talks a lot suddenly going quiet. It implies their mouth is so full of thick curd they cannot speak. It is not about being physically unable to talk. It is about choosing or being forced into silence by a situation.
How To Use It
You use it as a question to poke fun at someone. You can say Kya tumhare muh mein dahi jama hai?. This translates to 'Has curd set in your mouth?'. It is a rhetorical question. You are not actually asking about dairy products. You are asking why they are not answering you.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend is hiding a secret. Use it when a child is caught being naughty and stays silent. It works great when someone is shy during an introduction. It is perfect for lighthearted teasing among peers. You might use it if a colleague is unusually quiet in a meeting. It adds a touch of humor to a tense silence.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in very serious or tragic situations. If someone is silent due to grief, this is insensitive. Avoid using it with high-ranking bosses or elders you don't know well. It can sound a bit cheeky or rude. Do not use it if someone has an actual speech impairment. It is meant for psychological silence, not physical difficulty.
Cultural Background
In Indian households, curd (dahi) is a staple food. It takes hours to set and becomes a thick solid. The metaphor suggests that something has solidified in your mouth, making movement impossible. Curd is also seen as cooling. Perhaps the person's 'hot' arguments have cooled into a thick, silent block of curd!
Common Variations
You will mostly hear it as a question: Muh mein dahi jam gaya hai kya?. Sometimes people just say Muh mein dahi jama kar baithe ho. This means 'You are sitting there with curd set in your mouth'. Both versions carry the same teasing tone.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-frequency informal idiom. It is almost always used as a question to prompt someone to speak up in a social or casual setting.
The Tone Matters
Always say this with a smile! If said with a flat face, it can sound like a genuine insult rather than a joke.
Avoid with Elders
In Indian culture, questioning an elder's silence this way can be seen as 'badtameezi' (disrespect).
The Dahi Secret
Dahi is considered auspicious in India. While this idiom is for silence, eating dahi-shakar (curd and sugar) before an exam is for good luck!
Exemples
6Batao na kya hua, muh mein dahi jama hai kya?
Tell me what happened, has curd set in your mouth?
Uses the phrase as a classic rhetorical question.
Ab bolte kyun nahi? Muh mein dahi jam gaya hai?
Why aren't you speaking now? Has curd set in your mouth?
Common parental 'scolding' tone that is still light.
Sabke muh mein dahi kyun jama hai? Kuch toh bolo!
Why has curd set in everyone's mouth? Say something!
Used to break a professional but awkward silence.
Reply kyun nahi kar rahe? Muh mein dahi jam gaya?
Why aren't you replying? Did curd set in your mouth?
Very common in digital messaging to prompt a response.
Arre, naye logon ko dekh kar muh mein dahi jam gaya?
Oh, did curd set in your mouth seeing new people?
Used to acknowledge shyness in a friendly way.
Ab kya hua? Muh mein dahi jam gaya?
What happened now? Has curd set in your mouth?
A slightly more aggressive, competitive use during an argument.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb form to complete the idiom.
Tum bol kyun nahi rahe? Kya tumhare muh mein dahi ___ hai?
The verb jamna (to set/freeze) is the only one that completes this specific idiom.
Identify the correct body part used in this idiom.
Uske ___ mein dahi jam gaya hai.
The idiom specifically uses muh (mouth) because it refers to the inability to speak.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Scale of 'Muh mein dahi jamna'
Used with siblings or best friends.
Bol na! Muh mein dahi jama hai?
Used with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
Sab chup kyun hain? Muh mein dahi jama hai?
Generally avoided; sounds slightly unprofessional.
N/A
When to ask if curd has set
Caught in a lie
When a friend is speechless after being caught.
Shyness
When someone is too shy to introduce themselves.
Group Silence
When a teacher asks a question and no one answers.
Stubbornness
When someone refuses to participate in a gossip session.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt depends on the relationship. Between friends it is funny, but with a stranger, it is considered quite rude.
No, it is too informal for written business communication. Stick to spoken office banter.
The closest equivalent is 'Has the cat got your tongue?'
Yes, the idiom is fixed. You cannot replace curd with milk or yogurt; it must be dahi.
Yes! You can say Mere muh mein dahi jam gaya tha to explain why you were speechless.
It is primarily a Hindi/North Indian idiom, though many people across India understand it due to Bollywood.
Usually, it's used in the past participle form: jam gaya (has set) or jama hai (is set).
That would be a funny pun! But usually, it refers only to the metaphorical silence.
In formal Hindi, you would simply say Aap maun kyun hain? (Why are you silent?).
Not at all. It only implies they are unexpectedly quiet or hesitant to speak.
Expressions liées
Saanp soongh jana
To be struck dumb with fear (literally: to be smelled by a snake).
Zubaan par lagaam dena
To control one's tongue or stop talking.
Chuppi saadhna
To adopt a state of total silence.
Bolti band hona
To be silenced or have no words left to say.
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