Signification
To feel suddenly shocked, insecure, or lose one's footing due to a surprise.
Contexte culturel
Land is seen as the only 'true' asset. Losing land or having it move is the ultimate catastrophe. The idiom is a visual trope. Directors often use a 'zoom-in, track-out' camera shot to mimic the feeling of the idiom. Used frequently in business news to describe market disruptions or 'Unicorn' startups failing. Poets use this to describe the fragility of human ego against the forces of nature or fate.
Use with 'Mano'
Pair it with 'मानो' (as if) for a more literary effect: 'उसे ऐसा लगा मानो उसके पाँव तले ज़मीन खिसक गई हो।'
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'Zameen' is feminine. 'Khisak gaya' is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker.
Signification
To feel suddenly shocked, insecure, or lose one's footing due to a surprise.
Use with 'Mano'
Pair it with 'मानो' (as if) for a more literary effect: 'उसे ऐसा लगा मानो उसके पाँव तले ज़मीन खिसक गई हो।'
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'Zameen' is feminine. 'Khisak gaya' is a dead giveaway of a non-native speaker.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb.
जब उसने अपनी हार की खबर सुनी, तो उसके पाँव तले ज़मीन _______।
'Zameen' is feminine singular, so the verb must be 'khisak gayi'.
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
In which of these cases would you use 'पाँव तले ज़मीन खिसकना'?
This idiom is for serious, life-altering shocks.
Complete the dialogue.
अजय: क्या हुआ? तुम इतने परेशान क्यों दिख रहे हो? विजय: यार, कल रात घर में चोरी हो गई। सारा जेवर चला गया। यह सुनकर तो मेरी माँ के _______।
The context of a major theft and the resulting shock fits this idiom perfectly.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesजब उसने अपनी हार की खबर सुनी, तो उसके पाँव तले ज़मीन _______।
'Zameen' is feminine singular, so the verb must be 'khisak gayi'.
In which of these cases would you use 'पाँव तले ज़मीन खिसकना'?
This idiom is for serious, life-altering shocks.
अजय: क्या हुआ? तुम इतने परेशान क्यों दिख रहे हो? विजय: यार, कल रात घर में चोरी हो गई। सारा जेवर चला गया। यह सुनकर तो मेरी माँ के _______।
The context of a major theft and the resulting shock fits this idiom perfectly.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsGenerally, no. It implies a loss of stability and is almost always negative. For positive surprises, use 'फूले न समाना' or 'दंग रह जाना'.
Both are correct. 'Paon' sounds slightly more formal/literary, while 'Pairon' is more common in daily speech.
Only if you are describing a very serious crisis. It might be too dramatic for a standard business update.
Expressions liées
सकते में आना
similarTo be stunned into silence.
आसमान टूट पड़ना
similarTo be hit by a massive calamity.
हक्का-बक्का रह जाना
similarTo be flabbergasted.
दंग रह जाना
similarTo be amazed/astonished.
