मतलब
To cause harm to oneself.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
In rural Bangladesh, the axe is still a symbol of hard work. Using it as a metaphor for failure highlights how much value is placed on manual labor and the tools that enable it. In the intellectual circles of Kolkata, this idiom is frequently used in political satire and newspaper columns to criticize government policies that backfire. Among second-generation Bengalis in the UK or USA, the idiom is often translated literally as 'hitting your foot with an axe' during family conversations, maintaining the cultural link to the original agrarian metaphor. Classic authors like Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay used this idiom to describe characters who were their own worst enemies, often due to pride or social rigidity.
Use it for 'Oops' moments
It's perfect for when someone makes a mistake that they were warned about.
Don't use for serious injury
If someone is actually hurt, this idiom sounds like you are mocking them.
मतलब
To cause harm to oneself.
Use it for 'Oops' moments
It's perfect for when someone makes a mistake that they were warned about.
Don't use for serious injury
If someone is actually hurt, this idiom sounds like you are mocking them.
Conjugate the verb
Remember to change 'মারা' to 'মেরেছি' (I hit) or 'মারবে' (You will hit) depending on the person and time.
News Headlines
Look for this in Bengali newspapers; it's a favorite for political journalists.
खुद को परखो
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
বেশি লোভ করে সে নিজের ______ কুড়াল মারল।
The idiom is 'নিজের পায়ে কুড়াল মারা' (hitting the axe on one's own foot).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'নিজের পায়ে কুড়াল মারা'?
Which of these is an example of the idiom?
This is an act of self-sabotage where your own action ruins your opportunity.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the idiom.
রহিম: আমি ভাবছি কালকের ইন্টারভিউতে যাব না। করিম: যেও না, কিন্তু মনে রেখো, তুমি আসলে ______।
The present continuous 'মারছ' fits best as the action of skipping the interview is the act of sabotage happening now.
Match the action to the consequence.
Action: Telling a lie to your best friend.
Lying to a friend ruins the trust in the relationship, which is self-harming.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
Axe vs. Grave
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यासবেশি লোভ করে সে নিজের ______ কুড়াল মারল।
The idiom is 'নিজের পায়ে কুড়াল মারা' (hitting the axe on one's own foot).
Which of these is an example of the idiom?
This is an act of self-sabotage where your own action ruins your opportunity.
রহিম: আমি ভাবছি কালকের ইন্টারভিউতে যাব না। করিম: যেও না, কিন্তু মনে রেখো, তুমি আসলে ______।
The present continuous 'মারছ' fits best as the action of skipping the interview is the act of sabotage happening now.
Action: Telling a lie to your best friend.
Lying to a friend ruins the trust in the relationship, which is self-harming.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
14 सवालNo, it's not rude, but it is a direct criticism. Use it with friends or when discussing third parties, but be careful using it with a superior.
Usually, it's for mistakes with significant consequences. Forgetting a pen isn't 'hitting your foot with an axe,' but forgetting your passport for a flight is.
Hitting your foot with an axe implies an injury or a setback. Digging your own grave implies total destruction or 'social death'.
Both are correct. 'Kural' is standard, while 'Kurul' is a very common regional variation in West Bengal.
No, the idiom is fixed to the 'foot'. Changing it will make you sound like a non-native speaker.
You would say: 'আমি নিজের পায়ে কুড়াল মারলাম' (Ami nijer paye kural marlam).
Yes, it is very common in journalism and literature.
It usually means a foolish mistake, but it can sometimes imply a deliberate action that the person didn't realize would hurt them.
Yes, you can say 'সে নিজের পায়ে কুড়াল মারল' (He shot himself in the foot).
Yes, 'নিজের বাঁশ নিজে খাওয়া' is the slang equivalent, but it's quite vulgar.
It is an idiomatic phrase consisting of a noun phrase and a verb.
Yes, it is equally popular in both regions.
Only if you are describing a past mistake you learned from. Don't use it to describe your current actions!
Because in an agricultural society, a foot injury prevents you from working in the fields, which is the ultimate self-sabotage.
संबंधित मुहावरे
নিজের কবর নিজে খোঁড়া
similarTo dig one's own grave.
আঙুল ফুলে কলাগাছ
contrastTo become rich overnight (often unfairly).
নিজের নাক কেটে পরের যাত্রা ভঙ্গ করা
builds onTo harm oneself just to spite someone else.
বিপদ ডেকে আনা
synonymTo invite danger.
