Meaning
To become exasperated or fed up with someone or a situation, losing tolerance.
Cultural Background
The phrase is deeply rooted in the Quranic narrative, which gives it a sense of 'divine frustration' or ultimate human limit. Using it correctly signals a deep connection to the literary heritage. In news channels like Al Jazeera or Al Arabiya, this phrase is the standard way to describe 'public outcry' or 'exasperation' without using emotional or biased language. While the phrase is formal, in Levantine intellectual circles, it is used to express a refined type of anger—one that is intellectualized rather than just emotional. In Egypt, dealing with 'Mugamma' (government buildings) often leads people to use this phrase in formal complaints to officials to show they are serious and educated.
Use it in Writing
This phrase is a 'gold star' for Arabic proficiency tests like the ALTA or DLPT. Use it in the introductory or concluding paragraphs of an essay.
Don't Overuse
Because it is so strong, using it for small things makes you sound like a drama queen. Save it for the big stuff!
Meaning
To become exasperated or fed up with someone or a situation, losing tolerance.
Use it in Writing
This phrase is a 'gold star' for Arabic proficiency tests like the ALTA or DLPT. Use it in the introductory or concluding paragraphs of an essay.
Don't Overuse
Because it is so strong, using it for small things makes you sound like a drama queen. Save it for the big stuff!
The 'Bi' Connection
Always remember the 'bi' (بـ). Without it, the sentence falls apart grammatically.
Conjugation Trick
If you are talking about yourself, it's 'Diqtu' (ضقتُ). The long 'aa' disappears in the first person past tense.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
ضاق المواطنون _______ بالفساد المستشري.
The idiom is 'ضاق ذرعاً'. While 'ضاق صدراً' exists, it means to feel sad or anxious, not necessarily fed up with an external situation like corruption.
Choose the most appropriate context for using 'ضاق به ذرعاً'.
In which situation is this phrase most likely to appear?
This is a formal, high-register idiom used for serious, enduring problems.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb.
أحمد: لماذا ترك الموظف العمل؟ خالد: لأنه ____ ذرعاً بتعامل المدير القاسي.
The subject is 'الموظف' (the employee), which is singular masculine, so the verb must be 'ضاق'.
Match the Arabic phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are all related to losing patience but have slightly different nuances.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesضاق المواطنون _______ بالفساد المستشري.
The idiom is 'ضاق ذرعاً'. While 'ضاق صدراً' exists, it means to feel sad or anxious, not necessarily fed up with an external situation like corruption.
In which situation is this phrase most likely to appear?
This is a formal, high-register idiom used for serious, enduring problems.
أحمد: لماذا ترك الموظف العمل؟ خالد: لأنه ____ ذرعاً بتعامل المدير القاسي.
The subject is 'الموظف' (the employee), which is singular masculine, so the verb must be 'ضاق'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are all related to losing patience but have slightly different nuances.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it appears in Surah Hud and Surah Al-Ankabut to describe the Prophet Lut's distress.
Only if you are resigning or making a very serious complaint. It is very strong.
'Zeh'et' is informal/dialect. 'Dāqa dhar'an' is formal/literary. They mean the same thing but belong to different worlds.
Specifically, it means the forearm. It's an old unit of measurement like a 'cubit'.
It's common in modern speech, but 'بـ' (bi) is the correct classical preposition.
Yes, it always describes frustration, distress, or lack of tolerance.
No. For a narrow room, just say 'Al-ghurfa dayyiqa'. Don't add 'dhar'an'.
أضيقُ به ذرعاً (Adīqu bihi dhar'an).
Yes, as a Fusha idiom, it is understood and used in formal contexts from Morocco to Iraq.
Possibly 'انشرح صدره' (his chest expanded/became happy) or 'رحب بـ' (he welcomed).
Related Phrases
طفح الكيل
synonymThe measure overflowed
بلغ السيل الزبى
similarThe flood reached the high ground
نفد صبره
synonymHis patience was exhausted
ضاق صدره
contrastHis chest became narrow
على أحر من الجمر
contrastOn hotter than embers
