Meaning
To be in a hopeless or extremely difficult situation, beyond recovery.
Cultural Background
The phrase is immortalized in the poetry of Saadi. It reflects a stoic acceptance of hardship that is common in Persian classical thought. In many Iranian 'social realism' films, characters use this phrase to justify taking a final, desperate stand against corruption or poverty. Iranians often use this idiom with a specific shrug and a sigh, showing a cultural trait of 'Taslim' (submission to fate) when things go wrong.
Use the Suffixes
Always remember to change the suffix on 'sar' (saram, sarat, saresh) to sound like a native speaker.
Too Dramatic?
Don't use this for small things, or people will think you are having a mental breakdown!
Meaning
To be in a hopeless or extremely difficult situation, beyond recovery.
Use the Suffixes
Always remember to change the suffix on 'sar' (saram, sarat, saresh) to sound like a native speaker.
Too Dramatic?
Don't use this for small things, or people will think you are having a mental breakdown!
Test Yourself
Complete the idiom with the correct possessive form of 'head' for 'I'.
حالا که آب از سر____ گذشته، هر چه میخواهد بشود.
Since the speaker says 'I don't care what happens', the possessive suffix must be '-am' (my).
Which situation best fits the idiom 'آب از سر گذشتن'?
Which one?
The idiom is used for irreversible, major failures.
Match the Persian phrase to its English equivalent sense.
Match them:
This idiom specifically refers to being beyond help.
Choose the best response for B.
A: بیا فرار کنیم! پلیس داره میاد! B: ________
B is resigned to their fate because the situation is already hopeless.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesحالا که آب از سر____ گذشته، هر چه میخواهد بشود.
Since the speaker says 'I don't care what happens', the possessive suffix must be '-am' (my).
Which one?
The idiom is used for irreversible, major failures.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
This idiom specifically refers to being beyond help.
A: بیا فرار کنیم! پلیس داره میاد! B: ________
B is resigned to their fate because the situation is already hopeless.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsNo, it is strictly for negative or hopeless situations.
It's neutral. You can use it in a meeting to describe a project that is failing, but it's not 'corporate speak'.
It's the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully spread.
Yes, people often just say 'آب از سرم گذشت' (Ab az saram gozasht).
Related Phrases
به سیم آخر زدن
builds onTo throw caution to the wind / To go for broke.
کار از کار گذشتن
synonymIt's too late; the opportunity is gone.
خرش از پل گذشت
contrastHis donkey crossed the bridge (He's safe now).
