Meaning
To remove someone's support, influence, or power.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'Mehmani' (guestship) is so strong that 'cutting someone's foot' is seen as a very drastic measure, usually reserved for serious betrayals. In the Iranian bazaar, trust is everything. If someone's 'foot is cut' from the bazaar, it means they have lost their reputation and no one will trade with them. Iranian politicians frequently use this idiom to sound 'tough' on corruption or foreign interference, appealing to the public's desire for clear boundaries. In some rural areas, there's a belief that if an 'evil eye' person enters your home, you must 'cut their foot' metaphorically to protect the household's energy.
Use with 'Az'
Always specify the place using 'az' (from) to sound more natural. e.g., 'az khāne' (from home).
Don't use for accidents
If someone actually cuts their foot, use 'pāyam borid' (intransitive) or 'pāyam ghat shod'.
Meaning
To remove someone's support, influence, or power.
Use with 'Az'
Always specify the place using 'az' (from) to sound more natural. e.g., 'az khāne' (from home).
Don't use for accidents
If someone actually cuts their foot, use 'pāyam borid' (intransitive) or 'pāyam ghat shod'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
بعد از آنکه علی در امتحان تقلب کرد، مدیر پای او را از ............ برید.
The context of 'principal' (modir) and 'cheating' (taghalob) suggests the school is the place he was barred from.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'removing influence'?
کدام جمله درست است؟
This sentence correctly uses the idiom in a figurative sense regarding economic influence.
Match the situation to the correct Persian sentence.
Match the following:
All these are valid applications of the idiom.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا دیگر به آن رستوران نمیروی؟ B: چون صاحبش بیادب بود، ..................... .
The speaker is explaining why they personally stopped going to the restaurant.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesبعد از آنکه علی در امتحان تقلب کرد، مدیر پای او را از ............ برید.
The context of 'principal' (modir) and 'cheating' (taghalob) suggests the school is the place he was barred from.
کدام جمله درست است؟
This sentence correctly uses the idiom in a figurative sense regarding economic influence.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All these are valid applications of the idiom.
A: چرا دیگر به آن رستوران نمیروی؟ B: چون صاحبش بیادب بود، ..................... .
The speaker is explaining why they personally stopped going to the restaurant.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsIt is firm but not necessarily rude. It depends on the tone. In business, it's professional; in family, it's serious.
Yes! 'Pāyam rā az ānjā boridam' means 'I stopped going there.'
Related Phrases
پای کسی در میان بودن
similarTo be involved in something
دم کسی را چیدن
similarTo clip someone's wings/tail
قید کسی را زدن
synonymTo give up on someone
