Meaning
To live in poverty, having just enough money or food to survive.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Aberoo' (dignity/reputation) often prevents people from admitting they are 'dast be dahan'. They might skip meals in private to afford a good suit or a nice meal for a guest in public. In Tehran, the high cost of rent means that even some white-collar workers feel 'dast be dahan' because 70% of their salary goes to housing. Many 20th-century Iranian writers like Sadegh Hedayat or Samad Behrangi used this idiom to highlight the plight of the poor in their stories. Charity (Zakat and Khums) in Islam is intended to help those who are 'dast be dahan' so they can move toward financial stability.
Use with 'Zendegi kardan'
It sounds very natural to say 'Dast be dahan zendegi mikonan' (They live hand-to-mouth).
Sensitivity
Be careful using this to describe someone's family to their face; it can be seen as a comment on their lack of success.
Meaning
To live in poverty, having just enough money or food to survive.
Use with 'Zendegi kardan'
It sounds very natural to say 'Dast be dahan zendegi mikonan' (They live hand-to-mouth).
Sensitivity
Be careful using this to describe someone's family to their face; it can be seen as a comment on their lack of success.
Social Media Context
You will see this phrase constantly in the comments section of Iranian economic news pages.
The 'Aberoo' Factor
Remember that many people who are 'dast be dahan' will never admit it due to cultural pride.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
او با این حقوق کم، مجبور است دست ___ دهان زندگی کند.
The correct preposition for this idiom is 'be' (to).
Which sentence best describes someone who is 'دست به دهان'?
کدام گزینه وضعیت یک فرد 'دست به دهان' را توصیف میکند؟
The idiom refers to living without savings and only meeting basic needs.
Complete the dialogue with the appropriate form of the idiom.
علی: چرا ماشینت رو تعمیر نمیکنی؟ رضا: ای بابا، با این خرجها دیگه _________ شدیم.
The context of not being able to afford repairs suggests the 'hand-to-mouth' struggle.
Match the idiom to the correct situation.
در کدام موقعیت استفاده از 'دست به دهان بودن' درست است؟
This situation perfectly illustrates the immediate consumption of daily wages.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Financial States
Practice Bank
4 exercisesاو با این حقوق کم، مجبور است دست ___ دهان زندگی کند.
The correct preposition for this idiom is 'be' (to).
کدام گزینه وضعیت یک فرد 'دست به دهان' را توصیف میکند؟
The idiom refers to living without savings and only meeting basic needs.
علی: چرا ماشینت رو تعمیر نمیکنی؟ رضا: ای بابا، با این خرجها دیگه _________ شدیم.
The context of not being able to afford repairs suggests the 'hand-to-mouth' struggle.
در کدام موقعیت استفاده از 'دست به دهان بودن' درست است؟
This situation perfectly illustrates the immediate consumption of daily wages.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNot inherently, but it is a sensitive topic. It's more of a description of a hard situation than a personal failing.
Yes, you can say a small business is 'dast be dahan' if it barely covers its costs.
You could use 'servatmand' (wealthy) or 'morafe' (well-off/comfortable).
Yes, it is frequently used in journalism to describe the economic state of the masses.
Exactly. It is the Persian equivalent of that English concept.
Yes: 'Ghadiman dast be dahan budim' (We were hand-to-mouth in the past).
Yes, 'hashtesh gero-ye noh' is more informal/slangy.
No, it usually implies they are working hard but the economy is against them.
It's usually for individuals or groups, but metaphorically it could describe a very poor nation.
No, in Persian, the 'h' is always pronounced.
Related Phrases
هشتش گرو نه است
synonymTo be in a cycle of debt and poverty.
بخورو نمیر
similarA meager subsistence.
مرفه بیدرد
contrastThe wealthy who don't understand suffering.
آه در بساط نداشتن
specialized formTo be absolutely penniless.
