Meaning
To limit someone's power or money.
Cultural Background
In Ethiopian offices, 'shortening the hand' often refers to removing 'perks' like a company car or a fuel allowance to signal that an employee is no longer in favor. Historically, Ethiopian Emperors would 'shorten the hand' of regional kings (Negus) by taking away their right to collect certain taxes. It is common for elders to use this phrase when advising parents on how to handle a rebellious or wasteful child. Preachers use this idiom to describe how prideful people are eventually humbled by divine intervention.
Context is King
Always use this when there is a sense of 'too much' of something (too much power, too much spending).
Avoid Literalism
If you say this to a tailor, they will think you want your sleeves shortened. Be clear if you are talking about power!
Meaning
To limit someone's power or money.
Context is King
Always use this when there is a sense of 'too much' of something (too much power, too much spending).
Avoid Literalism
If you say this to a tailor, they will think you want your sleeves shortened. Be clear if you are talking about power!
Passive Voice
Use 'እጁ ታጠረ' (his hand was shortened) to sound more like a native speaker when describing someone who lost power.
Politeness
Be careful using this about your elders; it can sound disrespectful as it implies they were doing something wrong.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'እጅ ማሳጠር'.
መንግስት የሌቦችን ______ አለባቸው።
The idiom for limiting the power/reach of criminals or corrupt people is 'እጅ ማሳጠር'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'እጅ ማሳጠር'?
A manager decides to reduce the department's budget by 50%.
'እጅ መታጠብ' means washing hands, and 'እጅ መስጠት' means surrendering. 'እጅ ማሳጠር' is for limiting resources.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ልጄ በጣም ብር እያጠፋች ነው። B: እንግዲያውስ ______።
B is advising A to limit the daughter's spending power.
Match the idiom to its meaning.
እጅ ማሳጠር
The idiom literally means shortening a hand but figuratively means limiting power.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Hand Idioms
Practice Bank
4 exercisesመንግስት የሌቦችን ______ አለባቸው።
The idiom for limiting the power/reach of criminals or corrupt people is 'እጅ ማሳጠር'.
A manager decides to reduce the department's budget by 50%.
'እጅ መታጠብ' means washing hands, and 'እጅ መስጠት' means surrendering. 'እጅ ማሳጠር' is for limiting resources.
A: ልጄ በጣም ብር እያጠፋች ነው። B: እንግዲያውስ ______።
B is advising A to limit the daughter's spending power.
እጅ ማሳጠር
The idiom literally means shortening a hand but figuratively means limiting power.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questionsNo, for physical objects like a rope or a stick, just use 'ማሳጠር' (to shorten). 'እጅ ማሳጠር' is strictly an idiom for power/money.
It can be. If you say it to someone's face, it's a challenge. If you say it about a third party, it's a description of a situation.
The opposite is 'እጅ መዘርጋት' (to stretch the hand), which means to be generous or helpful.
No, to shorten time, you use 'ጊዜ መቀነስ'.
Yes, this is often used to describe self-imposed austerity measures or decentralization.
In Amharic, 'እጅ' can mean hand, arm, or sleeve. In this idiom, it represents the whole arm's reach.
You say 'እጄን አሳጠሩት' (Ej-en asat'erut).
Yes, many Ethiopian protest songs use this to talk about limiting the power of oppressors.
Only if you are talking about how you managed a budget effectively by 'shortening the hand' of wasteful spending.
The concept is A1/A2, but using it correctly in political context is B2/C1.
Not exactly, but young people might say 'መቆለፍ' (to lock) instead.
Sometimes. 'ረጅም እጅ' (long hand) often implies thievery, so 'shortening' it implies stopping a thief.
Yes, if a referee or a league limits a team's ability to sign players, you can use it.
The Amharic Bible uses similar imagery regarding the 'Hand of God' being shortened or stretched.
Related Phrases
እጅ መዘርጋት
contrastTo be generous
እጅ መግታት
similarTo restrain someone
ልጓም ማበጀት
similarTo rein in
እጅና ጓንት
specialized formHand and glove
ረጅም እጅ
builds onLong hand (greedy/powerful)
