Meaning
To remain inactive or refrain from taking action.
Cultural Background
In Iranian households, if a guest tries to help with dishes and the host says 'No, please sit,' the guest might feel they are 'putting hand on hand' (being useless). They often insist on helping to avoid this feeling. Classical poets like Saadi use the concept of 'sitting idle' to warn against wasting one's life. The hand is seen as the tool of the soul; to keep it still is to stifle the soul. In Iranian offices, 'Dast ruy-e dast gozâshtan' is a serious accusation of negligence that can lead to losing one's job.
Use the Negative
It is most powerful as 'Dast ruy-e dast nagozâr!' to sound like a native motivator.
Don't use for Romance
If you want to say 'holding hands' with a partner, never use this idiom. It sounds like you are both being lazy together.
Meaning
To remain inactive or refrain from taking action.
Use the Negative
It is most powerful as 'Dast ruy-e dast nagozâr!' to sound like a native motivator.
Don't use for Romance
If you want to say 'holding hands' with a partner, never use this idiom. It sounds like you are both being lazy together.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct verb form.
چرا نشستی؟ دست روی دست _______! (Don't put!)
The negative imperative of 'gozâshtan' is 'nagozâr' (informal) or 'nagozârid'.
In which situation is this idiom appropriate?
Your brother is watching TV while the house is messy and guests are coming in 10 minutes.
He is being idle when action is required.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Which one implies 'doing nothing'?
The idiom implies inaction, so 'just watching' is the logical follow-up.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
سارا: وقت نداریم! علی: میدونم، نباید _________.
The context of 'no time' requires the idiom for 'not being idle'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
When to say it
Work
- • Missed deadlines
- • Lazy coworkers
- • Slow progress
Home
- • Unfinished chores
- • Procrastinating kids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesچرا نشستی؟ دست روی دست _______! (Don't put!)
The negative imperative of 'gozâshtan' is 'nagozâr' (informal) or 'nagozârid'.
Your brother is watching TV while the house is messy and guests are coming in 10 minutes.
He is being idle when action is required.
Which one implies 'doing nothing'?
The idiom implies inaction, so 'just watching' is the logical follow-up.
سارا: وقت نداریم! علی: میدونم، نباید _________.
The context of 'no time' requires the idiom for 'not being idle'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsIt can be. If you say it to a superior, it's very rude. If you say it to a friend who is procrastinating, it's helpful advice.
Yes! 'Man dast ruy-e dast gozâshtam' (I did nothing/I wasted time) is a common way to admit a mistake.
The opposite is 'Dast be kâr shodan' (To get to work) or 'Astin bâlâ zadan' (To roll up sleeves).
Related Phrases
بیکار نشستن
synonymTo sit idle/jobless.
وقتکشی کردن
similarTo kill time.
آستین بالا زدن
contrastTo roll up one's sleeves.
