Signification
A rough way of saying you are angry at someone.
Contexte culturel
The eye is central to Turkish culture, from the 'Nazar' (Evil Eye) to idioms about 'entering someone's eye' (göze girmek - to be liked). Gouging the eye is the ultimate symbolic destruction of a person's social and physical presence. Blinding was a historical punishment for princes to prevent them from ascending the throne, as a Sultan had to be physically 'whole'. This historical trauma lingers in the language as a metaphor for power struggles. In Turkish soap operas (Diziler), this phrase is a staple for 'villain' dialogue, used to show the ruthlessness of a character. Similar to Italian or Greek cultures, Turkish culture is 'high-context' and emotionally expressive. Verbal 'violence' in idioms is often a way to prevent actual physical violence by venting steam.
Context is King
Only use this with people you are 100% comfortable with. It can sound very aggressive to an acquaintance.
Use the Reciprocal
If you want to sound more natural and less threatening, use 'birbirinin gözünü oymak' to describe a third-party conflict.
Signification
A rough way of saying you are angry at someone.
Context is King
Only use this with people you are 100% comfortable with. It can sound very aggressive to an acquaintance.
Use the Reciprocal
If you want to sound more natural and less threatening, use 'birbirinin gözünü oymak' to describe a third-party conflict.
Body Language
When saying this, Turks often squint their eyes or point two fingers towards their own eyes to emphasize the 'eye' part of the threat.
Teste-toi
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Eğer ödevimi yapmazsam öğretmen benim ______ ______.
Since the subject is 'öğretmen' and the object is 'benim' (my), you need the 1st person singular possessive 'gözüm' + accusative 'ü'.
Which situation best fits the phrase 'Birbirlerinin gözünü oyuyorlar'?
İki politikacı televizyonda çok sert tartışıyor.
The phrase describes a ruthless, fierce conflict or rivalry.
Choose the best response to the threat.
Ali: 'Bilgisayarımı bir daha izinsiz kullanırsan gözünü oyarım!' Veli: '__________'
The idiom is a threat, so the logical response is an apology or a promise to stop.
Which of the following is the literal meaning of 'oymak'?
Oymak fiilinin gerçek anlamı nedir?
'Oymak' is used for wood carving or hollowing out a surface.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Anger Levels in Turkish
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEğer ödevimi yapmazsam öğretmen benim ______ ______.
Since the subject is 'öğretmen' and the object is 'benim' (my), you need the 1st person singular possessive 'gözüm' + accusative 'ü'.
İki politikacı televizyonda çok sert tartışıyor.
The phrase describes a ruthless, fierce conflict or rivalry.
Ali: 'Bilgisayarımı bir daha izinsiz kullanırsan gözünü oyarım!' Veli: '__________'
The idiom is a threat, so the logical response is an apology or a promise to stop.
Oymak fiilinin gerçek anlamı nedir?
'Oymak' is used for wood carving or hollowing out a surface.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
14 questionsNo, it is 99.9% figurative. It's a way to vent extreme frustration through colorful language.
Better not. Turkish culture values respect for teachers (hoca), and this slang is too 'low' for that relationship.
They are mostly interchangeable, but 'oymak' feels a bit more intentional and 'fierce'.
Absolutely not. It is strictly for spoken, informal Turkish.
You would say 'Gözümü oydu.'
Yes, you can say 'Sana çok kırıldım' (I'm very hurt by you) or 'Beni çok kızdırdın' (You made me very angry).
Yes, kids use it with each other frequently during play or arguments.
Yes, it is common all over Turkey.
Usually, it's singular 'gözünü' (your eye), but 'gözlerini' (your eyes) is also used for extra emphasis.
No, it's only for people or personified entities (like companies).
Expect a fight. It's a provocative thing to say to someone you don't know.
It is used equally by both genders.
No. 'Eye for an eye' is about equal revenge. 'Gözünü oymak' is just about being very angry.
Only if you are 'playfully' angry, like 'If you look at another girl, I'll gouge your eyes out!'
Expressions liées
gözünü çıkarmak
synonymTo take out the eye; to overdo something or ruin it.
canına okumak
similarTo make someone's life miserable.
göz hapsine almak
builds onTo keep a very close eye on someone.
göze göz, dişe diş
similarAn eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
gözden düşmek
contrastTo lose someone's favor.
