Signification
To deprive someone of their livelihood.
Contexte culturel
Bread is so sacred that if a piece falls on the ground, people often pick it up, kiss it, and place it on a high ledge so it won't be stepped on. Taking a 'lokma' from someone's mouth is a violation of this sanctity. In the Ottoman 'Ahilik' system, masters were responsible for the 'rızık' of their apprentices. Taking away someone's ability to practice their trade was a cause for expulsion from the guild. Many classic Turkish films from the 70s revolve around the 'ekmek kavgası' (struggle for bread). The villain is almost always someone who 'takes the morsel from the mouth' of the poor protagonist. In Sufism, the 'lokma' is shared. Taking it for oneself at the expense of another is seen as the ultimate ego-driven sin.
Use for Empathy
Use this phrase when you want to show you understand the hardship someone is going through due to job loss.
Grammar Trap
Don't forget the 'n' in 'ağzıNdan'. It's a buffer letter required before the ablative suffix.
Signification
To deprive someone of their livelihood.
Use for Empathy
Use this phrase when you want to show you understand the hardship someone is going through due to job loss.
Grammar Trap
Don't forget the 'n' in 'ağzıNdan'. It's a buffer letter required before the ablative suffix.
Political Context
If you are writing an essay about income inequality in Turkish, this idiom will make your writing sound much more native and sophisticated.
The Sacred Bread
Remember that 'lokma' is synonymous with 'life' in this context. Treat the phrase with the seriousness it deserves.
Teste-toi
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of 'ağız' and 'lokma'.
Büyük şirketler, küçük esnafın ______ ______ alıyor.
We need the ablative '-dan' for 'ağız' and the possessive accusative '-sını' for 'lokma'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'ağzından lokmasını almak'?
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The idiom specifically refers to depriving someone of their livelihood or essential income.
Match the idiom with its synonym.
Deyimleri eşleştirin.
Both idioms refer to jeopardizing someone's livelihood.
Complete the dialogue using the idiom.
Ayşe: 'Yeni açılan AVM yüzünden bütün müşterilerimi kaybettim.' Mehmet: 'Üzülme Ayşe, resmen ______ ______ ______.'
Mehmet is sympathizing with Ayşe's loss of customers (livelihood).
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Livelihood Idioms
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesBüyük şirketler, küçük esnafın ______ ______ alıyor.
We need the ablative '-dan' for 'ağız' and the possessive accusative '-sını' for 'lokma'.
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanmak en uygundur?
The idiom specifically refers to depriving someone of their livelihood or essential income.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Both idioms refer to jeopardizing someone's livelihood.
Ayşe: 'Yeni açılan AVM yüzünden bütün müşterilerimi kaybettim.' Mehmet: 'Üzülme Ayşe, resmen ______ ______ ______.'
Mehmet is sympathizing with Ayşe's loss of customers (livelihood).
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsTechnically no. It is strictly for economic livelihood. For relationships, you would use 'sevgilisini elinden almak'.
It's not rude, but it is very accusatory. If you say it to someone's face, you are calling them cruel.
'Ekmeğiyle oynamak' is more common and can mean just 'jeopardizing' a job. 'Ağzından lokmasını almak' implies the job/money is already gone or being taken right now.
Literally yes, but in this idiom, it always represents money, salary, or profit.
No, it is inherently negative. It always describes a loss or an injustice.
Only if the meeting is very heated or emotional. In a standard professional meeting, use 'pazar payını kaybetmek' (losing market share).
Yes, 'ağızlarından lokmalarını almak' for multiple victims.
It has deep roots, but it is still very much alive in modern Turkish news and daily conversation.
Only literally. 'Aslan, sırtlanın ağzından lokmasını aldı' (The lion took the morsel from the hyena's mouth).
There isn't a direct single idiom, but 'ekmek kapısı açmak' (to open a door of bread/provide a job) is the conceptual opposite.
Expressions liées
ekmeğiyle oynamak
synonymTo play with someone's bread/livelihood.
ekmeğinden etmek
synonymTo cause someone to lose their job.
rızkını kesmek
similarTo cut off someone's sustenance.
ekmeğine kan doğramak
builds onTo make someone's life miserable while they try to earn a living.
ekmeğini elinden almak
synonymTo take the bread out of someone's hand.
