کف دست کسی را بو کردن
kafe daste kasi ra boo kardan
To know without being told, have a hunch
Meaning
To have an intuitive understanding or foresight about something, like a psychic.
Cultural Background
Fortune telling (Fal) is a huge part of Iranian culture, especially during Yalda night where people consult the poems of Hafez for their future. In the fast-paced life of Tehran, this idiom is frequently used to deal with the unpredictability of traffic and utility outages. Ancient 'Ramals' would often use sand, stones, or palms to predict the future, which is where the physical imagery of the idiom comes from. On Iranian Twitter/Instagram, you'll see this idiom used in memes about sudden government decisions or viral news.
The 'Ke' trick
Add 'ke' after 'dastam' for extra emphasis: 'Man ke kaf-e dastam-o bu nakarde budam!'
Don't be too aggressive
If you say it too loudly, it can sound rude. Keep the tone light and humorous.
Meaning
To have an intuitive understanding or foresight about something, like a psychic.
The 'Ke' trick
Add 'ke' after 'dastam' for extra emphasis: 'Man ke kaf-e dastam-o bu nakarde budam!'
Don't be too aggressive
If you say it too loudly, it can sound rude. Keep the tone light and humorous.
Body Language
Often accompanied by a shrug and palms facing upward (but not actually smelling them!).
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
ببخشید که دیر آمدم، مگر ______ را بو کرده بودم که تصادف میشود؟
Since the speaker is talking about their own lack of knowledge ('I came late'), they must use 'my palm' (kaf-e dast-am).
Which situation is most appropriate for this idiom?
In which case would you say 'Magar kaf-e dastam ra bu karde budam?'
The idiom is used for unexpected events that you couldn't have predicted.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا به من نگفتی علی مریض است؟ B: _________.
B is explaining that they didn't know Ali was sick, so the negative form is required.
Match the Persian phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
These are various ways to express ignorance, ranging from idiomatic to formal.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesببخشید که دیر آمدم، مگر ______ را بو کرده بودم که تصادف میشود؟
Since the speaker is talking about their own lack of knowledge ('I came late'), they must use 'my palm' (kaf-e dast-am).
In which case would you say 'Magar kaf-e dastam ra bu karde budam?'
The idiom is used for unexpected events that you couldn't have predicted.
A: چرا به من نگفتی علی مریض است؟ B: _________.
B is explaining that they didn't know Ali was sick, so the negative form is required.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are various ways to express ignorance, ranging from idiomatic to formal.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsMostly, yes. It's used as an excuse for not knowing something that caused a problem. You wouldn't usually use it for a happy surprise.
No, it's too informal. Use 'I didn't have that information' instead.
No, but 'Magar' makes it sound much more natural and native-like.
Just change the ending: 'Magar kaf-e dastash ra bu karde bud?'
Yes, if they are family or close friends. It's not 'slang,' just informal.
No, it specifically means 'I didn't have the knowledge.'
Yes, 'Kaf-e dastamo bu nakarde budam' is the common short form.
Only if you forgot it because you didn't know it was important. If you just forgot your keys, it doesn't really fit.
Only in dialogue in stories or very casual blogs.
It comes from ancient beliefs that scents revealed hidden truths.
Related Phrases
غیبگو بودن
synonymTo be a soothsayer
از غیب خبر داشتن
similarTo have news from the unseen
پیشگویی کردن
specialized formTo prophesy
مگر علم غیب دارم؟
synonymDo I have knowledge of the unseen?
