Meaning
A commotion or problem has subsided and things have become calm again.
Cultural Background
Watermills were the center of village life. The 'Asiaban' (miller) was a respected figure. The sound of the mill was the heartbeat of the village. Persian poetry often uses water as a symbol of life, but also of chaos. Controlling water (like in a mill) represents civilization. Journalists use this phrase to describe the 'cooling off' period of political tensions between Iran and other nations. Using this phrase can be a polite way to suggest ending a conflict without blaming anyone directly.
Use it for relief
This phrase carries a sense of 'Phew! Finally!' Use it when you are glad the noise is over.
Don't use for people
You can't say 'I fell from the mill' to mean you are calm. Only the 'water' falls.
Meaning
A commotion or problem has subsided and things have become calm again.
Use it for relief
This phrase carries a sense of 'Phew! Finally!' Use it when you are glad the noise is over.
Don't use for people
You can't say 'I fell from the mill' to mean you are calm. Only the 'water' falls.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
بعد از دعوای دیروز، امروز بالاخره آب از _______ افتاد.
The idiom specifically uses 'Asiab' (mill).
Which situation best fits this idiom?
When should you say 'Ab az asiab oftad'?
The idiom describes the return of calm after a commotion.
Choose the best response for Speaker B.
Speaker A: 'هنوز همه دارن درباره اشتباه تو حرف میزنن؟' (Are they still talking about your mistake?)
The 'Ne' (No) combined with the idiom correctly indicates that the gossip has stopped.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesبعد از دعوای دیروز، امروز بالاخره آب از _______ افتاد.
The idiom specifically uses 'Asiab' (mill).
When should you say 'Ab az asiab oftad'?
The idiom describes the return of calm after a commotion.
Speaker A: 'هنوز همه دارن درباره اشتباه تو حرف میزنن؟' (Are they still talking about your mistake?)
The 'Ne' (No) combined with the idiom correctly indicates that the gossip has stopped.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsYes, it is very common in newspapers and formal reports to describe the end of a crisis.
Not usually. For weather, we say 'The storm finished.' This is for social or mechanical commotion.
It's a traditional mill for grinding grain, usually powered by water (Ab-Asiab) or wind (Bad-Asiab).
Related Phrases
آبها از آسیاب افتادن
variationThe waters fell from the mill.
آب از سر گذشتن
contrastTo be in over one's head.
آب در کوزه و ما تشنهلبان میگردیم
similarThe water is in the jug, yet we look for it with thirsty lips.
